Jonathan Kaplan, the world's most capped Test referee, has been appointed to referee the 2009 Currie Cup Final. Marius Jonker and Mark Lawrence have been appointed to the Currie Cup seminal and Craig Joubert the First Division Final - all four amongst the very top referees in the world.

Only 24 referees have refereed Currie Cup Finals since 1939. It remains the most sought-after match in South Africa for players and referees, ranking higher than many, many Tests. Kaplan for example has refereed more than ten times as many Tests as Currie Cup Finals.

This will be Kaplan's fifth Final, putting him third on the list of referees who have refereed most Finals. André Watson with seven heads the lost followed by Steve Strydom on six. Kaplan will now pull level with Freek Burger on five.

Jimmy Smith Belton is next on three while Piet Robbertse, Gert Bezuidenhout and Johan Gouws each refereed two Finals. The other 16 did one each.

Kaplan referees his first Final in 2002 when the Golden Lions played the Blue Bulls. Now he will have refereed four of the last five, He did not referee the Final in 2007 when he stayed longer at the World Cup than some others did.

Kaplan is delighted at the appointment which affirms his position as the top referee in South Africa.

Marius Jonker, who comes from Richard's Bay at the top of Zululand will, referee the first seminal, the one between the Sharks and the Cheetahs in Durban while Mark Lawrence, who refereed the 2007 Currie Cup Final, will referee the semifinal at Newlands when the Blue Bulls play Western Province.

For the second time Craig Joubert, who this year refereed two Bledisloe Cup matches will referee the First Division Final between the Pumas and South Western Districts.

AFP

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