Record-breaking South African test referee Jonathan Kaplan will retire from professional refereeing at the end of the 2013 South African season.
SuperSport
The 46-year-old Kaplan, who has refereed more tests, Vodacom Super Rugby and Absa Currie Cup matches than anyone in history, steps down after 21 years on SARU’s elite panels.
“Rugby has been my life for the past few decades and I’ve made the decision with a tinge of sadness,” said Kaplan. “But the time has come to move on and make way for the young referees we have coming through in South Africa.
“I’ve had an incredible career, and I’d like to thank both SARU and the IRB for the opportunities they have given me.
“I’ve always prided myself on having the best interests of the game at heart and being brave enough to try and get the best out of every game in which I have been involved. I’ll miss my front row seats on the big stage.”
Among Kaplan’s list of achievements and records are:
- A world record 68 test matches
- A record 99 Vodacom Super Rugby matches
- A record 150 Absa Currie Cup matches
- Attended four Rugby World Cup tournaments
- Five Absa Currie Cup finals
- Three Vodacom Super Rugby Finals
“Jonathan has been one of the world’s best referees for a very long time now and has been a credit not only to South African rugby but the profession of refereeing,” said Jurie Roux, CEO of SARU.
“His calm control of matches set the standard and you knew that if Jonathan Kaplan was in charge, the players would be allowed to express themselves. We’ll be sorry to see him go but we respect his decision.”
Kaplan will complete his century of Vodacom Super Rugby matches when he takes charge of the Toyota Cheetahs match against The Sharks in opening South African round of Vodacom Super Rugby.
“I’d like to thank my special family, and friends for walking this journey with me and the public for their generous and unwavering support,” said Kaplan. “It has been an incredible ride and I have made some great friends across all cultures and experienced some unique moments through rugby.
“I’d like to remain involved in the game if at all possible, quite in what capacity I am not sure at this stage.”
My feeling is that he became to big for his shoes, he is a good ref but he think he knows all
Matt Dunning is among four former Wallabies recruited by SANZAR to advise judicial officers on dangerous tackles and other citable offences.
In an effort to improve the process and produce more consistent penalties for in-game offences, SANZAR will call on Dunning and former Wallabies Steve Kefu, David Croft and John Langford, as well as 11 other former players across South Africa and New Zealand, for expert advice on cases brought before full hearings.
Just a few days out from the start of the Super Rugby season, SANZAR chief Greg Peters said it would be compulsory for judicial officers to consult a nominated former player in the course of their deliberations.
Waratahs need Bonus point. Dunning take drop goal
Oh noooooooooooooooooooo!!!
GOODBYE!!!!! Please don’t call us, and we certainly won’t call you.
Was a good and respected ref who started to think that he was bigger than the game.
Another Legend retires, this month must end, the Pope, Juan Smith, Jonathan Kaplan and now this….
‘World’s most prolific streaker’ retires
Mark Roberts, who claims to be the world’s most prolific streaker, has stripped for the last time.
For two decades, the Liverpudlian father of three has been the Usain Bolt of the naked dash. In 1995, he leapt naked on to Fred Talbot’s weather map on British daytime TV show This Morning, and a year later he appeared nude on the green during the British Open at Royal Lytham.
Then, in 2004, he was fined £550 for trespassing after streaking across the pitch at the Super Bowl in Texas – a match watched by 130 million people in 87 countries.
For good measure, Mark has also stripped off at Wembley, Wimbledon and Ascot.
“There’s no major venue or event I haven’t done,” he says proudly. “But I’m nearly 49 now and my children have begged me to stop. It’s time. I’m not ready for my slippers just yet, but gravity’s against me.”
Last week, for his last outing -his 519th and final streak – I joined him. I would love to say that sitting naked on a bench in an icy Buckinghamshire park was somehow a freeing experience. But, with my modesty barely covered by an A4 notepad, I would be lying.
http://www.iol.co.za/news/back-page/world-s-most-prolific-streaker-retires-1.1468806#.URsmp_JC6bE
@ superBul:
Running around showing is nothing. Running around naked and tackling FC Smit. Now that is a achievement
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