SA gets Test referee No 69

Cape Town - André Watson, South Africa's refereeing manager, has announced that Marius van der Westhuizen is to become South Africa's 69th Test referee.

Van der Westhuizen, like Craig Joubert and Stuart Berry, did remarkably well in World Rugby's Sevens Series and has now concentrated on 15-man rugby. Last year he broke into Super Rugby and has acquitted himself remarkably well.

At present Van der Westhuizen is recovering from a burst appendix after an operation last Saturday. The operation kept him out of refereeing the Sharks v Crusaders match on April 4.