Johannesburg - Andre Watson, the general manager of referees at the SA Rugby Union, has praised referee Marlize Jordaan, who made history at the weekend when she became the first woman to referee in an international sevens match for men.
"It's not that common for women to referee in men's matches, but Marlize has grown so much in her career as a referee, that we weren't surprised when we were told of her appointment," Watson said on Tuesday.
"Last week Marlize refereed the Varsity Cup Young Guns match between the Under-20 teams of Kovsies and UP-Tuks, and was very good.
"In 2012, she also handled two matches in the Absa U-19 B tournament with great aplomb. We're really expecting big things from her and are very proud of her achievement in South America."
Jordaan, who represented South Africa in 2009 at both the Women's Nations Cup in Canada and Women's Sevens World Cup in Dubai, refereed the match between Peru and Paraguay at the Consur Sevens in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.