Ref Jaco Peyper retires

Test rugby referee Jaco Peyper has retired, in part because of a lingering Achilles tendon injury.

Peyper called time on a 12-year test career including three Rugby World Cups, a day after the Achilles injury forced him to withdraw as the referee for the Six Nations match in March between Italy and Scotland.

The South African was hurt in October, just 12 minutes into the World Cup quarterfinal between Argentina and Wales in Marseille.

Peyper controlled 67 tests, sixth most on the all-time list.

They included 14 World Cup matches.

After a 2019 quarterfinal where he sent off France lock Sebastien Vahaamahina and Wales won, Peyper had to apologise for mocking Vahaamahina’s foul in a photo with Wales fans.

Source: NZ Herald