SA Rugby adds 3 female officials to national refereeing panel

Three female officials have been promoted to SA Rugby national refereeing panel for 2023.

The three female officials are Ashley Murray-Pretorius, Sinesipho Foloti and Giana Viljoen. The trio will officiate at the top of the domestic refereeing structure, meaning they will be in line to officiate at Currie Cup level.

They follow the footsteps of Aimee Barrett-Theron, who represented SA Rugby with distinction at the recent Women's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Men's officials also newly appointed to the national panel include Jonathan Lottering, Hanro van Rooyen, Hernus Coetzee, Zukile Madikizela, JD de Meyer and Lulutho Matomela, while Siyanda Ketse and Aneka Fick have been promoted to the women's panel.

National Panel: Christopher Allison, Aimee Barrett-Theron, Johre Botha, Hernus Coetzee, Griffin Colby, JD de Meyer, Morne Ferreira, Sinesipho Foloti, Stephan Geldenhuys, AJ Jacobs, Cwengile Jadezweni, Jonathan Lottering, Zukile Madikizela, Lulutho Matomela, Pumzile Mbewu, Ruhan Meiring, Paul Mente, Vusi Msibi, Sean Muller, Ashleigh Murray-Pretorius, Dylen November, Jaco Peyper, Marius van der Westhuizen, Hanro van Rooyen, Giana Viljoen

Women's Panel: Angelic Bezuidenhout, Cameron Dyers, Aneka Fick, Yohane Halgryn, Siyanda Ketse, Maria Mabote, Tshepi Maropa, Akhona Mngcolomba, Siyanda Pikoli, Zoe Naude, Bulela Qwane

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

"After two years of delays due to the Covid-pandemic, we kicked off with a successful referee talent identification programme in all 14 provinces," Banks Yantolo, SA Rugby’s referees manager, said in a statement.

"We invited the top performers to the various SA Rugby Youth Weeks for intensive coaching and