Rassie’s rants keep wary referees away

Referees are growing increasingly reluctant to take charge of test matches involving South Africa, having seen their families threatened after Rassie Erasmus’s targeted criticism of them.

Erasmus, 50, the South Africa director of rugby, was suspended by World Rugby for the second time in a year for publishing a series of clips on social media highlighting tight refereeing calls in Springbok games.

He was banned from having any involvement in two matches, the test against Italy last weekend and the final match of their tour, against England this Sunday. He is unable to attend Twickenham, or comment on social media for the rest of this week.

Erasmus had only returned to the South African coaching box in September, having served a 12-month suspension for his infamous 62-minute video that dissected refereeing decisions during the 2021 British & Irish Lions series.

The Times understands that a number of referees are now uneasy about officiating tests that involve the world champions, concerned that they and their families will become targets for vitriolic abuse if South Africa lose.

Both Nic Berry, the Australian who took charge of the first Lions test last year, and the Englishman Wayne Barnes, the referee Erasmus targeted after the loss to France this month, have received death threats on the back of his criticism.

It is understood their families and children have also been targeted online, via Instagram and Twitter, and threatened with violence.

Erasmus’ tactics are not a recent ploy. It is also believed that in 2018, when South Africa lost 32-19 to Argentina in the Rugby Championship, he sent an extraordinarily angry email to Angus Gardner, the Australian referee who has been slated to officiate Sunday’s match against England at Twickenham.

The South African Rugby Union (SARU) is yet to comment publicly on Erasmus’ ban, which was handed out last Thursday, and the man himself does not believe his actions warranted another ban.

The RFU wrote a strongly worded letter to the SARU condemning Erasmus’ behaviour, having seen the abuse Barnes and his family suffered.

The criticism Barnes received included a post from the wife of the Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe, who suggested France had paid him a bribe. Layla Kolbe later deleted the post on Instagram.