SA Rugby has congratulated three South African women referees who have earned prestigious appointments in upcoming Women’s Six Nations competitions.
SA Rugby President Mark Alexander praised Aimee Barrett-Theron, Zoe Naude and Giana Viljoen for their achievements, saying their selections highlight the success of efforts to develop and support women match officials in South Africa.
Barrett-Theron is set to reach a major career milestone, becoming only the second woman in the world, after England’s Sara Cox, to referee 50 international Test matches. She will officiate in the Women’s Six Nations, starting with France’s opening clash against Italy in Grenoble on 11 April.
She will then travel to Kansas City in the United States to referee the Pacific Four Series match between Canada and New Zealand on 17 April, before taking charge of the Six Nations encounter between Scotland and France in Edinburgh on 9 May.
Barrett-Theron will also become just the fourth South African match official to referee 50 Tests, joining Jonathan Kaplan, Craig Joubert and Jaco Peyper.
Alexander praised her achievement, saying she has established herself as one of the world’s leading referees.
“The work done by our Referees Department to uplift and upskill our women’s match officials has been amazing,” he said.
“Over the years, Aimee has cemented her name as one of the top referees in the world, and reaching 50 Tests is a well-deserved accolade.”
Zoe Naude has also received a Women’s Six Nations appointment and will referee the match between Scotland and England in Edinburgh on 18 April. Naude refereed her first Test in September 2024 when the Springbok Women faced Spain at DHL Stadium in Cape Town.
Meanwhile, Giana Viljoen has been selected as part of the officiating panel for the inaugural Under-21 Women’s Six Nations series, which runs from 18 April to 10 May. Viljoen, a member of World Rugby’s Talent Identification programme, will referee France versus Scotland in Tarbes on 2 May, and Wales against Ireland in Caerphilly on 10 May.
Alexander said Naude and Viljoen are following in Barrett-Theron’s footsteps and that their appointments reflect years of hard work and dedication.
“We are very proud of them and would like to wish them all the best on the missions ahead,” he said.
