Sanzaar has announced AJ Jacobs as the only newcomer on the referees panel for the 2018 Super Rugby season.

Jacobs is one of five South Africans – along with Jaco Peyper, Marius van der Westhuizen, Rasta Rasivhenge and Egon Seconds – who were included on the list of 17 referees to officiate this year’s Super Rugby matches.

Two local referees, Stuart Berry and Quinton Immelman, were redeployed to the Pro14, while Jaco van Heerden retired late last year.

‘AJ is one of our most promising referees and I want to congratulate him on this achievement,’ said SA Rugby’s referees manager Banks Yantolo. ‘He is a dedicated match official and he fully deserves his Super Rugby appointment.’

Referees panel:

South Africa – Jaco Peyper, Marius van der Westhuizen, Rasta Rasivhenge, Egon Seconds, AJ Jacobs.

New Zealand – Glen Jackson, Nick Briant, Mike Fraser, Ben O’Keeffe, Brendon Pickerill, Paul Williams, Jamie Nutbrown.

Australia – Angus Gardner, Nic Berry, Will Houston.

Argentina – Federico Anselmi.

Japan – Shuhei Kubo.

Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images