South Africa’s top international match official, Jaco Peyper, is hanging up his whistle and packing away his red cards to pursue new and exciting things!
South Africa (22 January 2024) – Jaco Peyper is a world-renowned rugby match official. The talented South African is retiring from the field, to take on new challenges. Many well-known people within the industry have bid Peyper the best of luck, including World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont.
“Jaco has been a fantastic ambassador for rugby, a role model for aspiring referees and will be remembered as one of the greats of international and club refereeing.
“But above all the accolades, he is a great person. He cares deeply about the game and championing his fellow match officials. He has played a huge role in the development of burgeoning international referees and is a calm, assured presence within a great team.
“It takes a special type of person to be at the top of their game in the most challenging of arenas, and Jaco has done that superbly. In short, he is a credit to rugby, his nation and his family, and I wish him all the best as he begins a new and exciting chapter.” – Sir Bill Beaumont
Jaco Peyper has had an incredible local and international career. He is the sixth most-capped Emirates World Rugby referee of all time with 67 tests. The 43-year-old is considered as one of the sport’s great referees, having blown the whistle in three men’s Rugby World Cups, 10 Guinness Six Nations Championships and nine Rugby Championships since making his international debut with Kenya versus Zimbabwe in 2011.
Peyper also bows out having achieved the highest accolades in the professional club game, refereeing nine finals – five Currie Cups, three Super Rugby and one Champions Cup final.
He also set a few firsts for South Africa – becoming the first South African to referee the European Champions Cup final with Leinster against La Rochelle in 2023.
Away from the field of play, Peyper has played a pivotal role in mentoring and championing the next generation of match officials. Reflecting this passion, Peyper was elected to the inaugural management committee of the International Rugby Match Officials body in 2023, serving the interests of the top male and female officials on the international stage.
His work with broadcasters has also helped to deepen the understanding of refereeing and laws.
Jaco shared his thoughts about his career and the life he hopes to lead going forward.
“I literally grew up next to the rugby field as my dad was a coach, and later on I played and coached the game before I took up the opportunity to go into refereeing. There are always tough times at high-end refereeing, but since making my first-class debut 17 years ago rugby has only been good to me.
“It’s been a great journey, I have made many wonderful friends and I’ve been fortunate enough to visit many fantastic places around the world. All things considered, now is perhaps the best time to step away from active refereeing to spend more time with my lovely wife and two beautiful daughters, as well as my growing business interests.
“There are many people I would like to thank and will do so personally, but I want to give a special word of thanks to the CEOs of SA Rugby for backing me, the support I’ve received from the High-Performance division, my fellow match officials and World Rugby management, and specifically the Springboks, whom I’ve worked with closely and who have helped me become a better referee.
“I’d love to say what a super opportunity refereeing is to be involved with the game you love, even though its perceived as such unforgiving job – I have made friends in all rugby playing countries and cultures and see some of the most awesome places whilst we called it work.
“Rugby is part of my life, and I have made wonderful friends around the world through my travels in the game, and although I’m closing the door on active refereeing, I would love nothing more than to stay involved in this wonderful game and plough back after what it’s given me.” – Jaco Peyper
Sources: World Rugby
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:
Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
by 