Milestone for SA referee given the responsibility of officiating in an international Test

South African match official Morné Ferreira is set to referee his first international rugby Test match abroad next month after being appointed by World Rugby to officiate the clash between Spain and Fiji in Valladolid.

This appointment marks a significant milestone in Ferreira’s career, as he continues to build a solid reputation on the global stage.

World Rugby announced the list of match officials for the November Test window, which includes Ferreira’s appointment, alongside the officials assigned to the Springboks’ upcoming three Tests in Edinburgh, London, and Cardiff.

Referees: Morne Ferreira will be in action in Spain, while Christophe Ridley, Andrew Brace and Karl Dickson will be in charge of the #Springboks' November Tests - more here: https://t.co/NA1poD2Odd 🥳 pic.twitter.com/Wpvs1r8cWJ

— Springboks (@Springboks) October 11, 2024

Christophe Ridley of England will officiate the South Africa vs Scotland match, Andrew Brace of Ireland will oversee South Africa vs England, and Karl Dickson of England will handle the South Africa vs Wales match.

Ferreira’s journey in international rugby refereeing began in 2021 when he officiated his first Test matches at the Stellenbosch Challenge, which featured teams from Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Brazil. His November 16 appointment in Spain is another exciting chapter in his career, and in addition to this, Ferreira has been selected as an assistant referee for four other fixtures, including a high-profile match between France and Argentina in Paris.

Notably, Aimee Barrett-Theron, a trailblazing South African referee who recently became the first female match official to referee 40 Test matches, will join Ferreira as an assistant referee for the Valladolid Test.

Barrett-Theron will also serve as an assistant referee in two other matches during the November Test window.

Further showcasing South Africa’s refereeing expertise, three more South Africans – Quinton Immelman, Marius Jonker, and Marius van der Westhuizen – will be part of the TMO (Television Match Official) panel for various Test matches throughout the window.

This growing presence of South African officials in international rugby demonstrates the country's strength in producing world-class referees, ensuring quality South African representation both on and off the field.