/ 5 April 2005

Rugby refs ‘brought game into disrepute’

SA Rugby has confirmed that two referees will be brought before a disciplinary hearing following remarks made about an administrator. The two top rugby referees allegedly brought the game into disrepute after criticising Griquas president Baby Richards in a newspaper article.

SA Rugby has confirmed that two referees will be brought before a disciplinary hearing following remarks made about an administrator.

The two top rugby referees allegedly brought the game into disrepute after criticising Griquas president Baby Richards in a newspaper article.

Louis Mzomba of Western Province and Luvuyo Matsha of Golden Lions are believed to have criticised Richards, who is also the president’s council member in charge of referees, accusing him of not giving black referees any major games.

Both Mzomba and Matsha are black. So is Richards.

Christo Ferreira, general manager of policies and regulations at SA Rugby, said the disciplinary hearing will take place on Thursday.

”It will take place in Cape Town, and although I think this is the first occasion that referees are brought in for something like this, I expect they will receive much the same punishment as when a player or coach makes remarks,” said Ferreira.

”The punishment in those instances is either a monetary fine or a fine suspended for a certain period.”

According to the official document, the two men are charged with ”an activity and or conduct off the field that may impair public confidence in the honest and orderly conduct of or integrity and good character of Mr Baby Richards”. — Sapa