Top SA ref for PRO14 final

TOP South African referee Stuart Berry will make history when he blows the PRO14 final between Leinster and Scarlets in Dublin on Saturday.

He will become only the fifth person to blow the final and the first South African to take charge of the season’s showpiece.

Berry will lead a team of neutral match officials for the game at the Aviva Stadium, with Marius Mitrea (Italy) and Mike Adamson (Scotland) appointed as assistant referees, while Neil Paterson (Scotland) will serve as the television match official.

Apart from his 13 appearances in the PRO14 this season, Berry has also refereed 26 Super Rugby matches and 11 tests. He made his debut at this level in the third-round match between Ospreys and Munster Rugby.

“We are immensely proud of Stuart and we know he will represent South Africa with aplomb in Dublin on Saturday,” SA Rugby chief executive Jurie Roux said.

“His appointment to the final of the PRO14 is well deserved and we believe it underlines the fact that our entry into this exciting competition in the Northern Hemisphere has been a great success.

“We made many new rugby friends from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy, and I believe we also made our presence felt in this tough competition, in many ways.

“We’d like to wish Stuart and his colleagues well for Saturday’s game, as well as Leinster Rugby and Scarlets, in what promises to be a great showcase and wonderful end to the Guinness PRO14 season.”

PRO14 elite referee manager Greg Garner said: “The addition of South African referees to the Guinness PRO14 has provided us with a broader roster to select from and allowed us to name an all-neutral panel of match officials for this weekend.”