Pretoria - With so much pink abounding on the rugby fields, it wasn’t surprising that it would clash at some stage or other.
According to the supersport.com website, this will happen this week when the Bulls fly in to Auckland to face off with the Blues in their Super Rugby game on Sunday. Kick-off is at 05:05 SA time.
But the clash won’t be with the opposing team, even though both have blue kits, but rather with the referee.
New Zealand referees this year have worn pink as their outfits thanks to a new sponsor and with the Bulls again deciding to don their pink “away” kit during this year’s tournament, there was a distinct possibility the 16th man would literally become the 16th man in pink.
But with SANZAR alerted to the clash, referees boss Lyndon Bray confirmed that the referee would change his kit to a white shirt and black shorts for the clash.
“The referee would have to change in such an instance,” Bray said.
The move did catch SANZAR by surprise, with officials needing to find out if there was indeed “an alternative kit” for the referee.
The referee in question, Garratt Williamson, will have the whistle - in white - this weekend.
According to the supersport.com website, this will happen this week when the Bulls fly in to Auckland to face off with the Blues in their Super Rugby game on Sunday. Kick-off is at 05:05 SA time.
But the clash won’t be with the opposing team, even though both have blue kits, but rather with the referee.
New Zealand referees this year have worn pink as their outfits thanks to a new sponsor and with the Bulls again deciding to don their pink “away” kit during this year’s tournament, there was a distinct possibility the 16th man would literally become the 16th man in pink.
But with SANZAR alerted to the clash, referees boss Lyndon Bray confirmed that the referee would change his kit to a white shirt and black shorts for the clash.
“The referee would have to change in such an instance,” Bray said.
The move did catch SANZAR by surprise, with officials needing to find out if there was indeed “an alternative kit” for the referee.
The referee in question, Garratt Williamson, will have the whistle - in white - this weekend.