Welcome to the Western Province Rugby Referees’ Society
The Western Province Rugby Referees’ Society, an affiliate of the Western Province Rugby Union and, in turn, SA Rugby, is tasked with recruiting, training, grading and appointing referees to all organised rugby in the Province. This includes school and club games, and SA Rugby competitions.
Western Province has a rich rugby history dating back many years. But it was in 1992 that the Province took the lead in unifying rugby referees, bringing together seven disparate societies into one cohesive non-racial organisation – the first in South Africa.
The societies included:
• Newlands-based WP Rugby Referees’ Society
• City and Suburban Referees
• Tygerberg Rugby Referees
• Somerset Board Referees
• WP Rugby Football Board
• Greenpoint-based WP Rugby Football Union
• Some members from the Boland Referees.
First WPRRS Executive 1992
An interim committee was elected from these societies, members included: Fanie Wentzel, Farouk Williams, Dirk Jurgens, Neville Heilbron, Nico van Wyk, TC Hardenberg, Willem Brits, Gerald Njengele, Frank Greenblatt, Tinkie Heyns, Noor Karan, Douglas Holwill, James Apollis, Harry Abrahams, Paul Dobson, Sammy Loots, Chris Kuun, Salie Davids, Paul van Blommestein and Dianne Roodman.
Western Province, one of the world’s rugby powerhouses, is also the nursery of some of the top match officials and has recorded several South African firsts, these include:
• The first Black Currie Cup referee – Neville Heilbron
• The first Black Test referee – Carl Spannenberg
• The first female Test referee – Jenny Bentel
• The first Black African referee – Louis Mzomba
• The first Black international Match Assessor – James Apollis
• The first referee in the modern era to officiate in an international game that included the Springbok team – Marius van der Westhuizen
• Regularly featuring several referees on the SARRA panels
• Regularly featuring match officials among the Match Reviewing and Television Match Official panels.
In normal circumstances rugby is alive and well in the Province. With around 90 clubs hosting more than 160 games on a typical weekend – plus even more school games – the demand for fit and well-trained referees is high.
If you love the game and are looking for a way to give something back, why not consider taking up the whistle. We are looking for females and males aged 16 and older to get involved. There is a process to follow – click here to find out more – and we’ll do our best to get you on the field as soon as possible.
Click on the portfolios below to view more information.
Appointments
Coaching of Match Officials
Reviewing of Match Officials
Referees Pathway
Marketing and Recruitment
Membership and Communication
Education and Training
Financial Management
Chairmen
J Klaaste-Salmaans – 2016-
D deVilliers – 2010-2015
D Immelman – 2008-2009
D Holwill – 200-2007
P Dobson – 1992-1999
Vice Chairmen
JC Fortuin – 2017-
A Southgate – 2008-2016
J Apollis – 1997
H Abrahams – 1992
Committee
J Willemse – 2017
E Douglas – 2015
JC Fortuin – 2015
H Radyn – 2014
D Perry – 2013
L Mzomba – 2012
J Peterse – 2009
R Bourbon-Leftley – 2009
R Barry – 2009
H Greyvenstein – 2008
E Daniels – 2008
J Bentel – 2008
A Mackay – 2008
T Mngqibisi – 2006
D Immelman – 2004
B Hawkins – 2001
A Becker – 2001
J van der Merwe – 2000
O Kiewietz – 2000
D de Villiers – 1996
P Smit – 1997
F Williams – 1997
J Hattingh – 1994
N van Wyk – 1993
I Wentzel – 1992
C Sigabi – 1993
R Loots – 1992
G Njengele – 1992
C Kuun – 1992
N Karan – 1992
D Jurgens – 1992
D Holwill – 1992
TC Hardenberg – 1992
I de v Heyns – 1992
N Heilbron – 1992
F Greenblatt – 1992
S Davids – 1992
W Brits – 1992
J Apollis – 1992
Match Secretaries
F Said – 2019
S February – 2015
M van Wyngaard – 1998
D Roodman – 1992
Secretaries
F Said – 2019
N Dudumashe – 2014
L Booysen – 2011
T Dunbar – 2008
L Roopen – 2007
F Gabriel – 1998
Honorary Members
A Mackay – 2019
B Theron – 2019
R Bourbon-Leftley – 2019
T Mngqibisi – 2019
N le Roux – 2019
D de Villiers – 2015
G Bester – 2004
F Wolmarans – 2004
H Pretorius – 2002
P Diepenaar – 2002
D van Rensburg – 2001
N Heilbron – 2000
G Power – 1999
D Holwill – 1997
F Mellish – 1997
W Brits – 1996
TC Hardenburg – 1995
C Kuun – 1995
F Burger – 1994
H Abrahams – 1994
V Landau – 1992
J Apollis – 1992
J Kolesky – 1992
P Dobson – 1992
I de v Heyns – 1992
R Loots – 1992
J Schoeman – 1992
Provincial Referees
D November – 2019
D Uys – 2018
B Qwane – 2015
E Seconds – 2015
F Rasivhenge – 2015
A Barrett-Theron – 2015
C Jadzweni – 2013
F Pretorius – 2013
D Fortuin – 2013
M van der Westhuizen – 2012
J Jaftha – 2010
P Bosch – 2009
F Groenewald – 2009
Q Immelman – 2009
E Daniels-Africa – 2006
S Pityio – 2006
M van Zyl – 2006
J Klaaste-Salmans – 2006
M Kemp – 2005
S Edwards – 2003
W de Kock – 2003
J Bentel – 2003
G Lloyd-Jones – 2003
J America – 2002
A Gerber – 2002
R Barry – 2001
J Kaplan – 2001
D Immelman – 2000
A Cilliers – 2000
PJ Blouw – 2000
E Daniels – 1998
I Green – 1998
A Cupido – 1997
F van Wyk – 1997
D van Blommenstein – 1997
JC Fortuin – 1997
L Mzomba – 1993
W Cillie – 1993
A Turner – 1993
M Katzellenbogen – 1993
G Coetzee – 1992
P Adams – 1992
E Wygaard – 1992
C Spannenberg – 1992
S King – 1992
R Johnson – 1992
F Greeblatt – 1992
D de Villiers – 1992
F Claasen – 1992
P van Blommenstein – 1992
N Heilbron – 1992
B Black – 1992
F burger – 1992
TMO
J Klaaste-Salmans
D van Blommenstein
JC Fortuin
IRB Sevens Referees
A Barrett-Theron – 2016
F Rasivhenge – 2015
M van der Westhuizen
J Jaftha
J Klaaste-Salmans
Test Referees
Q Immelman – 2017
E Seconds – 2017
A Barrett-Theron – 2016
C Jadzweni – 2016
F Rashivenge – 2016
M van der Westhuizen – 2015
E Daniels-Africa – 2008
J Bentel – 2008
JC Fortuin – 2004
J Kaplan – 2001
L Mzomba – 2001
E Daniels – 2001
A Turner – 2000
C Spannenberg – 1996
F Burger – 1992
2019
Willem Brits: Divan Uys
Executive:
Chairman’s: Marius van der Westhuizen
Highest Examination Mark:
Overall Merit: Petrus van der Merwe
Most Improved: Cameron Africa
Most Promising: Ettienne de Wee
Referee of the Year: Aimee Barrett-Theron
2018
Willem Brits: Egon Seconds
Executive: Egon Seconds
Chairman’s:
Highest Examination Mark: Henk Hagen
Overall Merit: Henk Hagen
Most Improved: Petrus van der Merwe
Most Promising: Dylen November
Referee of the Year: Aimee Barrett-Theron
2017
Willem Brits:
Executive: Aimee Barrett-Theron
Chairman’s:
Highest Examination Mark: Divan Uys
Overall Merit: Zander Herselman
Most Improved: Hennie Daniller
Most Promising: Khwezi Mqomboti
Referee of the Year: Marius van der Westhuizen
2016
Willem Brits: Charles Visser
Executive: Rasta Rasivhenge
Chairman’s:
Highest Examination Mark: Divan Uys Charles Visser
Overall Merit: Divan Uys
Most Improved: Clearance Khumalo
Most Promising: Jean de Wet
Referee of the Year: Marius van der Westhuizen
2015
Willem Brits: Marius van der Westhuizen
Executive: Quinton Immelman
Chairman’s:
Highest Examination Mark: Divan Uys
Overall Merit: Henk Hagen
Most Improved: Bulela Qwane
Most Promising: Dylland Francke
Referee of the Year: Marius van der Westhuizen
2014
Willem Brits: Marius van der Westhuizen
Executive: Daniel Fortuin
Chairman’s: Aimee Barrett-Theron
Highest Examination Mark: Cullum Johnston
Overall Merit: Cullum Johnston
Most Improved: Jean de Wet
Most Promising: Le-Eustace Beukes
Referee of the Year: Marius van der Westhuizen
2019
Most Improved: Sergio Hughes
Most Promising: Wesley Holtmann
Ambassador: Tiffany Gordon
Referee of the Year: De Wet du Plessis
2018
Most Improved: Reece Groenewald
Most Promising: De Wet du Plessis
Ambassador: Jade Lawson
Referee of the Year: Chris Simayi
2017
Most Improved: Handru Colling
Most Promising: Rogo Wigett-Beattie
Ambassador: Chris Simayi
Referee of the Year: Johan Lombard
2016
Most Improved: Tristan Moore
Most Promising: Schalk Joubert
Ambassador: Macneil Fredericks
Referee of the Year: Daryn van Heerden
2015
Most Improved: Dyllan November
Most Promising: Lynn-Jay Hendricks
Ambassador: Yamkele Sithole
Referee of the Year: Juan de Bod
2014
Most Improved: Andrea Maas
Most Promising: Juan de Bod
Ambassador: Sara Raal
Referee of the Year: Quinton Green