Gardner for Super Final

SANZAAR has announced that Angus Gardener of Australia will referee the Super Rugby final on Saturday, 4 August 2018.

By Paul Dobson, Moonsport

The final will be between the Crusaders and Lions. It will be his 61st Super Rugby Match since his first appointment, Reds vs Rebels in Brisbane, in 2012 when he was 27.

Gardner, a Sydneysider by birth, began refereeing when he was still at school, Shore, one of Sydney's Great Public Schools. He is in good company as Craig Joubert, Jonathan Kaplan, Steve Walsh, Wayne Barnes, Stuart Berry, Stuart Dickinson and Ian Rogers all started as schoolboys and went on to become Test referees.

He has now refereed 13 Tests.

Gardner's career has blossomed with experience and he is now a referee able to manage the delicate balance between the letter of the law and letting the players express themselves in a match.

Super Rugby Final Referees

1993: Freek Burger (South Africa)
1994: Glen Wahlstrom (New Zealand)
1995: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)
1996: Wayne Erickson (Australia)
1997: Tappe Henning (South Africa)
1998: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)
1999: André Watson (South Africa)
2000: André Watson (South Africa)
2001: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)
2002: André Watson (South Africa)
2003: André Watson (South Africa)
2004: André Watson (South Africa)
2005: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
2006: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
2007: Steve Walsh (New Zealand)
2008: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
2009: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
2010: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
2011: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
2012: Steve Walsh (Australia)
2013: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
2014: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
2015: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
2016: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
2017: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

Final referees, by number of appointments

5 - André Watson
3 - Paddy O'Brien, Jonathan Kaplan, Craig Joubert
2 - Steve Walsh, Jaco Peyper
1 - Freek Burger, Glen Wahlstrom, Wayne Erickson, Tappe Henning, Mark Lawrence, Bryce Lawrence, Glen Jackson