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Major League Rugby has tapped two of the world’s most experienced referees in recent times to manage their match officials for the 2021 season. South Africa’s Jonathan Kaplan will take over the top spot with New Zealand’s Chris Pollock assisting as technical advisor.
Kaplan, 53, retired from top level refereeing in 2013 with a then-record 70 test matches under his belt over a period of 17 years. He was an assistant at Rugby World Cup 1999 and a member of the senior panel at the 2003, 2007, and 2011 World Cups.
Among his most notable appointments were British & Irish Lions tests on both the 2001 and 2005 tours. All told he took charge of well over 400 first class matches including the 2005, 2006, and 2009 Super Rugby Finals and five Currie Cup Finals.
Pollock stepped away from refereeing in 2015 after a decade at the top which included 22 tests. The 47-year-old was in the middle of nearly 200 first class matches including selection as an assistant at RWC 2011 and to the senior panel at RWC 2015.
In 2006 Pollock ruled over the final of the IRB u21 World Championship in Durban and in 2013 he became the first official to referee a Super Rugby match wearing a camera. As with Kaplan, another highlight appointment was the first test of the 2013 Lions tour to Australia.
Kaplan and Pollock will be tasked with the selection, appointment, and development of match officials for the 2021 season. They take over the lead roles from 2020 Match Official Manager Richard Every and Technical Manager Steve Lander.
