Craig Joubert will referee Saturday’s Super Rugby clash between the Stormers and Bulls at Newlands.

In other appointments, Jaco van Heerden will officiate the earlier derby between the Sharks and Kings in Port Elizabeth, while Stuart Berry will referee Friday night’s game between the Cheetahs and Jaguares in Bloemfontein.

The Lions’ opener against the Sunwolves in Tokyo on Saturday will be officiated by New Zealand’s Ben O’Keeffe. In a game not involving a South African team, Marius van der Westhuizen will referee the clash between the Force and Rebels in Perth. 

Additionally, Rasta Rasivhenge, Cwengile Jadezweni, Rodney Bonaparte, AJ Jacobs, Quinton Immelman and Lourens van der Merwe have been appointed as assistant referees, while Johan Greeff, Marius Jonker and Christie du Preez will do duty as TMOs in the opening round of the competition.

'South African rugby has always prided itself on the high calibre of match officials we deliver to the global game and nothing has changed recently,' said SA Rugby's high performance general manager Rassie Erasmus.

'Craig and Jaco Peyper, with 93 Tests and 152 Vodacom Super Rugby matches between them, are two of the most experienced referees on the SANZAAR panel, while our up-and-coming match officials, such as Rasta, Quinton, Marius, Stuart and Jaco van Heerden, as well as the men on the TMO panel, are all very highly regarded.'

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