- South Africa’s shortage of elite rugby referees has prompted an explanation from a senior URC official
- The transition from experienced officials to a new generation could take longer than many supporters expect
- The URC referee boss has outlined what needs to happen before more South Africans reach the international stage
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South Africa’s shortage of top-level rugby referees is linked to a generational transition rather than a lack of talent, according to United Rugby Championship (URC) head of referees Tappe Henning. He says the next generation needs time and experience before it can regularly officiate the biggest Test matches.
The issue has attracted attention as the Springboks continue to compete at the highest level, while South African officials have had limited representation in leading international appointments.
Why South Africa has fewer elite rugby referees
South Africa has a proud history of producing respected referees, including Jonathan Kaplan, Mark Lawrence, Craig Joubert and Jaco Peyper. However, Peyper’s retirement following an injury at the 2023 Rugby World Cup marked the departure of a prominent figure from the international refereeing scene.
According to Planet Rugby, Henning discussed the issue during a YouTube podcast interview with rugby journalist Brenden Nel.
Henning explained that referee development follows a cycle similar to a rugby team losing several experienced players.
“If you have a strong team for a long time and then you lose your experienced referees who have occupied the top positions and got the top appointments and exposure all the time, then your next group needs to grow in their own time,” Henning said.
Tappe Henning explains the five-to-seven-year process
The URC official said it generally takes between five and seven years of professional rugby experience for a referee to develop into a top international official. He pointed to Scotland's Hollie Davidson as an example of how long the process can take, noting that her development began in 2017.
Henning added that South Africa previously benefited from experienced referees who consistently received major appointments and valuable exposure.
“When those referees retire from refereeing, you have to bide your time with the next group to build, which takes five to seven years,” he said.
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What lies ahead for South African referees?
Henning said the current group of South African referees is still in the early stages of its development. The URC is preparing them for higher-level responsibilities.
However, he acknowledged that mistakes are part of the learning process as officials adapt to the demands of modern rugby.
The challenge, therefore, is to give emerging referees the experience needed to progress through the URC, European competitions, and eventually international Test rugby.
For South Africa, restoring a strong presence among the world's leading referees will depend on developing the next generation rather than expecting immediate replacements for the experienced officials who have retired.
World Rugby faces questions over new tackle laws
Briefly News previously reported that France’s head of referees, Mathieu Raynal, challenged World Rugby over the timing of its new hip-drop tackle ban, which is scheduled to take effect on 1 November 2026.
Raynal said the implementation date contradicted an agreement that World Rugby would introduce new laws during the July international window. He also raised concerns about the guidance available to referees before the ban comes into force.
Source: Briefly News