SA officials named on 2015 RWC committees
Two South African officials, Freek Burger and Justice Lex Mpati, have been selected to form part of an experienced disciplinary team for Rugby World Cup 2015 in England.
While Burger will do duty as a citing commissioner, Justice Mpati will be one of the appeal’s officers.
Selected on merit, the team – representing 11 nations – comprises 11 citing commissioners, 10 judicial officers and four appeal officers, who will preside over all disciplinary matters concerning on-field acts of foul play and any misconduct matters that might arise.
Citing commissioners: James Absaloms (Kenya), Freek Burger (South Africa), Steve Hinds (New Zealand), Douglas Hunter (Scotland), Bruce Kuklinski (Canada), Peter Larter (England), Scott Nowland (Australia), Mike Rafter (England), Yves Thieffine (France), Maurizio Vancini (Italy), Murray Whyte (Ireland).
Judicial officers: Prof. Lorne Crerar (Scotland), Adam Casselden (Australia), Jean-Noël Couraud (France), Antony Davies (England), Alan Hudson (Canada), Sheriff Katherine Mackie (Scotland), Roger Morris (Wales), Christopher Quinlan QC (England), Simon Thomas (Wales), Terry Willis (Australia).
Appeal officers: Justice Lex Mpati (South Africa), Justice Sir James Dingemans (England), Justice Graeme Mew (Canada), Rod McKenzie (Scotland).
In addition, Justice Douglas White (recently retired as a judge of the New Zealand Court of Appeal) has been appointed for a third consecutive Rugby World Cup as the Disputes Panel Chairman, to deal with any breaches of the tournament terms of participation applicable to teams.
The selection of the team is the result of a detailed pathway programme implemented by World Rugby. Under the programme, candidates from across the rugby world were invited to be considered for selection for England 2015. With the full support of their national unions, interested persons had domestic, cross-border and international appointments as citing commissioners and judicial personnel evaluated and assessed.
The final selection was made by the World Rugby Judicial Panel Chairman, Tim Gresson (New Zealand), in conjunction with the World Rugby Chairman, Bernard Lapasset, following a two-day disciplinary workshop in London in April.
Lapasset said: “World Rugby is committed to the highest possible standards of clear and consistent application of the rugby-specific disciplinary process and the selection of this high-calibre disciplinary team, on merit, underscores our intent. Rugby continues to experience record growth across every continent and a strong and robust disciplinary programme is key to a successful Rugby World Cup tournament, and indeed for the image of rugby as a whole.”