The match officials for the 1st and 2nd Rounds of the 2014 Super Rugby season have been released.
South African teams alone will contest the opening round and the Stormers have a bye in the first week.
Australian and New Zealand teams will start their Super Rugby seasons in Round 2.
Even though the New Zealand and Australian teams start a week later they will not pick up a bye for Round 1. Australian teams started a week earlier in 2013.
South African referee Craig Joubert will blow his whistle to start the 2014 season as he is in charge of the first match between the Toyota Cheetahs and Lions.
Joubert is in the middle of a busy time as he was on Six Nations duty on the weekend and returns to South Africa this week but will return to Twickenham and take charge of the match between England and Ireland.
The second match in the opening Round, between the Cell C Sharks and Vodacom Bulls, will be controlled by Jason Jaftha.
There are just two matches in the opening round.
The 2nd Round has 7 matches, but not all of the officials have been confirmed yet.
Super Rugby – Round 1:
Toyota Cheetahs vs Lions:
Date: 15 February 2014
Venue:: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick Off: 17:05 SA Time
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa) with Oupa Wagner (South Africa) in training
Cell C Sharks vs Vodacom Bulls:
Date: 15 February 2014
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick Off: 19:10 SA Time
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) – Jason Jaftha out injured
Assistant Referees: Stuart Berry (South Africa), Marius Jonker (South Africa)
TMO: Deon van Blommestein (South Africa)
Super Rugby – Round 2:
Crusaders vs Chiefs:
Date: 21 February 2014
Venue: AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Kick Off: 08:35 SA Time, (19:35 NZ Time)
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees:
TMO:
Toyota Cheetahs vs Vodacom Bulls:
Date: 21 February 2014
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick Off: 19:10 SA Time
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa), Francois de Bruin (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa) with Nic van Stryp (South Africa) in training
Highlanders vs Blues:
Date: 22 February 2014
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick Off: 08:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time)
Referee: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees:
TMO:
Brumbies vs Reds:
Date: 22 February 2014
Venue: Canberra Stadium, Canberra
Kick Off: 10:40 SA Time (19:40 AEST)
Referee: James Leckie (Australia)
Assistant Referees:
TMO:
Cell C Sharks vs Hurricanes:
Date: 22 February 2014
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick Off: 17:05 SA Time
Referee: Andrew Lees (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Marius Jonker (South Africa), Stefan Breytenbach (South Africa)
TMO: Deon van Blommestein (South Africa)
Lions vs DHL Stormers:
Date: 22 February 2014
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick Off: 19:10 SA Time
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Jason Jaftha (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa) with Pieter de Bruin (South Africa) in training
Waratahs vs Western Force:
Date :23 February 2014
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kick Off: 07:05 SA Time (16:05 AEST)
Referee: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)
Assistant Referees:
TMO:
The remaining match officials will be added later, when known.