Super final referees

From Freek to Jonathan

This weekend's Super 14 final is the 14th final in Super rugby with, naturally, the 14th appointment of a referee - Jonathan Kaplan of South Africa.

The first referee for a Super final was Freek Burger of South Africa for the 1993 Super 10 final. He is also the first - and last - referee to referee an international Super final.

The other referee to referee a final in which a team of his own country was involved was Paddy O'Brien in 1998, but then both teams were from New Zealand. That also happened three times after that but on each occasion the referee has been a non-New Zealander.

There may just be a move afoot to quit this use of nationally unattached referees in favour of appointing simply the best referee for the job regardless of his affiliation. Those who know referees will find the idea acceptable even if it does encourage shrieks of bias from those who find it hard to believe that anybody can be neutral at a rugby match.

The 14 finals have been refereed by seven referees.

At least because South African teams have so often been absent from finals, most of the finals have been refereed by South Africans - four of them for nine matches.

New Zealand teams have been missing from four finals. Their two referees have refereed four finals.

Australian teams have been missing from four finals. One Australian has refereed a final.

South African teams have been missing from nine finals.

André Watson has referee most finals, followed by Paddy O'Brien. Both of them have retired as have Freek Burger, Glen Wahlstrom and Wayne Erickson - and Tappe Henning is winding up his career.

All the referees who have refereed finals have been Test referees.

The referees, by number of appointments, have been:

5 - André Watson
3 - Paddy O'Brien
2 - Jonathan Kaplan
1 - Freek Burger, Glen Wahlstrom, Wayne Erickson, Tappe Henning

Finals

Super 10

1993: Transvaal vs Queensland at Ellis Park, 20-17
Referee: Freek Burger (South Africa)

1994: Queensland vs Natal at Ballymore, 21-10
Referee; Glen Wahlstrom (New Zealand)

1995: Queensland vs Transvaal at Ellis Park, 30-16
Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)

Super 12

1996: Auckland vs Natal at Eden :Park, 45-21
Referee: Wayne Erickson (Australia)

1997: Auckland Blues vs ACT Brumbies at Eden Park, 23-7
Referee: Tappe Henning (South Africa)

1998: Canterbury Crusaders vs Auckland Blues at Eden Park, 20-13
Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)
 
1999: Canterbury Crusaders vs Otago Highlanders at Carisbrook, 24-19
Referee: André Watson (South Africa)

2000: Crusaders vs Brumbies at Bruce Stadium, 20-19
Referee: André Watson (South Africa)

2001: Brumbies vs Sharks at Bruce Stadium, 30-6
Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)

2002: Crusaders vs Brumbies, 31-13 at Jade Stadium
Referee: André Watson (South Africa)

2003: Blues vs Crusaders, at Eden Park 21-17
Referee: André Watson (South Africa)

2004: Brumbies vs Crusaders at Canberra Stadium, 47-38
Referee: André Watson (South Africa)

2005: Crusaders vs Waratahs at Jade Stadium, 35-25
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

2006: Crusaders vs Hurricanes at Jade Stadium
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)