Ex-referee Jaco Peyper handed promotion in South Africa set-up

Former referee Jaco Peyper has been chosen to oversee a new ‘elite’ referees panel created by SA Rugby which will help South African officials make the step up to international level.

Peyper was hired by Rassie Erasmus earlier this year to join his coaching set-up as a laws advisor, but has now had his role expanded within SA Rugby.

The former National Panel has been divided into two subsections – elite and national – with Peyper mentoring those that have been identified to referee on the Test stage.

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With 67 Tests to his name before retiring at the beginning of the year, the 44-year-old has plenty of experience he can impart on the six referees chosen and two reserves.

Peyper will also be joined by former referee and current television match official Marius Jonker in the role.

“The idea behind this is to allow more specific work to be done with the match officials on the different panels, while we’ve also done away with our women’s panel as they are now part of the two new panels” said SA Rugby general manager of referees Banks Yantolo.

“The National Panel will be guided by Mark Lawrence and Deon van Blommestein, and it’s their task to prepare the next generation of referees for the Elite Panel.

“We were able to achieve our objectives of bringing through young and talented referees with a long runway on their side, as they are typically aged between 22 and 26 years old.

“Six referees were promoted from their provinces onto the National Panel – Charlwen Daries, Excellent Mnkomo, Caleb Hibbert and Juan de Bod, as well as two women’s referees in Siyanda Pikoli and Angie Bezuidenhout.”

The SA Rugby match official panels for 2025:

Elite Panel: Christopher Allison, Aimee Barrett-Theron, Griffin Colby, Morne Ferreira, AJ Jacobs, Marius van der Westhuizen. Reserves: Sean Muller, Hanru van Rooyen.

National Panel: Angie Bezuidenhout, Daniel Canhenga, Hernus Coetzee, Charlwen Daries, Juan de Bod, Stephan Geldenhuys, Caleb Hibbert, Cwengile Jadezweni, Jonathan Lottering, Lulutho Matomela, Phumzile Mbewu, Paul Mente, Excellent Mnkomo, Zoe Naude, Dylen November, Siyanda Pikoli, Eon van Zyl, Giana Viljoen.

TMO Panel: Ben Crouse, Christie du Preez, Quinton Immelman, Marius Jonker, Archie Sehlako, Egon Seconds.