Craig Joubert

Craig Joubert, is only 36 years old but on Saturday he became the seventh referee in the history of rugby union football to referee 50 Tests, the third one to do so this year.

It’s a long way from the days when the most capped referee had 11 Tests in a seven-year international career. Now with Tests from February to December there are many more chances.

Joubert is the second South African to reach 50, after Jonathan Kaplan who was the first in rugby history to do so. After Kaplan came Chris White of England, Alain Rolland of Ireland and Steve Walsh of New Zealand and then Australia. Then came the 2014 trio – Wayne Barnes of England, Nigel Owens of Wales and Craig Paul Joubert of South Africa.

Kaplan was 43, White 47, Rolland 45, Walsh 40, Barnes 34, Owens 42 and Joubert, born in Durban on 8 November 1977, 36 when he refereed Australia vs France at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday evening.

He is typically modest about it, saying: “50 is just a number but I guess it’s a nice moment to reflect and look back on 50 wonderful occasions which have each been an honour and privilege.

“I deliberately did not advertise that it was a milestone game but my colleagues and team mates on Saturday night, Chris Pollock, Garratt Williamson and Ben Skeen, in conjunction with my dear Brisbane friends Tom Ryan (liaison) and Scott Young (Australia’s referees manager) presented me with a replica Test referees jersey embroidered with the details of my 50th Test which was a very special moment.”

“But more important than all that was the fact that I had a Test match to referee and milestones should not distract from performance in any way. I was pleased that my friends decided to keep all the emotional mementos for after the game which allowed me to prepare as I have on 49 previous occasions to do my best. It was a special Test match of 73 points, 9 tries and a staggering 42 minutes ball in play time – my kinda game!”

Joubert certainly is a role model – a referee so calm and unfussed but firm and definite, athletic and accurate that he makes the complex process of refereeing look simple.

He has had special moments – the youngest referee to referee a Currie Cup Final and the referee in Super Rugby and World Cup Finals amongst great moments in a great career.