Interview with Jonathan Kaplan

[TRF_Getofmeland]

We are pleased to offer you the chance to ask your questions to the South African World Cup Referee Jonathan Kaplan.

Jonathan Kaplan will be refereeing at this years Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, and this a rare chance to be able to ask a World Class Rugby Referee a question.

Click here to ask a question to Jonathan Kaplan

[TRF_Draggs]

How has refereeing changed since you have started?
What year and at what level did you start refereeing?

Great work, cheers!

[TRF_Getofmeland]

Sorted the link to the thread...

[TRF_Ezequiel]

How has refereeing changed since you have started?
What year and at what level did you start refereeing?

Great work, cheers!

I can answer that for you

Kaplan began refereeing in 1984, while still a high school student. He made his first-class debut in 1991 and was appointed to South Africa's national panel of referees in 1993. On 4 May 1996 he made his international debut in a match between Namibia and Zimbabwe in Harare.

[munstermuffin]

Where has your most intimidating experience been and how did you learn from it?

[TRF_Draggs]

I can answer that for you

Kaplan began refereeing in 1984, while still a high school student. He made his first-class debut in 1991 and was appointed to South Africa's national panel of referees in 1993. On 4 May 1996 he made his international debut in a match between Namibia and Zimbabwe in Harare.

Thanks John!

[Feicarsinn]

Refs take a lot of flak these days for their management of the scrum. How difficult an area of the game is this to police. What measures do you think could be introduced to improve this aspect of the game?

[Milla]

These are from myself and one of my team-mates:

What do you think of the state of Rugby and its rule changes in the last 10 years?

Has the job of a referee changed much since the 90s, with communication technology being introduced?

[cmac95]

Apart from yourself who do you think is the best referee in the world.
Who is the hardest team/player to referee.

Is there a big difference in refereeing club and international level.

[lucky number 7]

How does one go about becoming a top class ref

Did you play alot of rugby yourself if so what position ?

We hear so much talk about dangerous tackles theses days what is your opinion regarding the banning of any "lifting" in the tackle

[munstermuffin]

Jonathan, as a ref who is from the Southern Hemisphere but has a great amount of experience in the Northern Hemisphere can you tell us how a ref has to adjust between the two styles?
What is the difference in approach etc?

[dan the man]

What player/players has given you the most grief over your career?

[Woldog]

What do you think about not being able to use the "TMO" in calls on dangerous tackles and what punishment he/she recommends?

[Shaggy]

If you could pick one facet of the game, or one rule change to make the game better, what would it be?

[dan-the-man]

Mr. Kaplan, how is it possible that a ref can make as many mistakes as you yet still be employed?

[Seaton]

Being from Durban, do you support the Sharks? ( Geniune question)

And if so, why don't you prove it with the whistle

[Little Guy]

With today's faster paced game especially in the Southern Hemisphere, has physical fitness of officials become a greater concern?

Is there a training regime and standards that you yourself strive for in maintaining your ability to remaiin in the centre of the action?

[Steve-o]

Is the new scrum engagement procedure working as good as SANZAR refs have hoped?

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

What has been the proudest achievement of your refereeing career thus far?

At the other end of the scale, when a referee realises he's made an error in a game, is it easy to forget or does it play on your mind for the rest of the contest?

[Aout]

What is your opinion about NH nations complaining so much about rucks ? Very often in the SH we see players diving in rucks and the ref does not whistle whereas in the North players who are diving are immediately penalized.

[TNT88]

How much training do you do in a week? And what sort of training?

[GazzaJAnimal]

As a bit of an amateur historian of our beautiful game I collect old videos and have noted the changes over the years to the scrum procedure. In the dim and distant past of the 1970's and 80's the front rows would come together closely followed by the second row. Only when the scrum was stable would the scrum-half put the ball in. There seemed to be little input from the referee and there were far fewer collapses, resets and penalties than there are now. Would you like to see a return to those styles of scrums?

[aaronts9]

Hi Jonathan,

I myself am about to being refereeing starting with age grade rugby and i'm hoping to work my way up the ranks through hong kong, i dont know if you're familiar with gabriel lee who often refs my own age group games.
I was wondering if you have tips on the broad subject of refereeing and then particularly how i can tighten my "game" up

Cheers
Aaron Lum from Hong Kong

[munstermuffin]

How much training do you do in a week? And what sort of training?

Can I add to that question to and ask when training is any of his sessions supervised by anyone or is his schedule totally independant?

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Questions can be asked until Friday afternoon 1 PM (GMT)

[Amobokoboko]

What's his favorite team, does it hurt when being a ref during their game and see them lose.
Why did he decide to become a ref.
what position did he play if he ever played rugby.

[cmac95]

What's the most amount of red/yellow cards you have given in a match?
What were the two teams?

[osulli mi]

from your position as an unbiased spectator what was the match with the biggest rivalry you have ever reffed

[ranger]

If you had complete control of the rule making process, what laws would you add or change?

Do you think referees should always call to the letter of the law or is there a place for letting some things slide to keep a game flowing?

[TRF_Getofmeland]

Questions are now being collated and have been sent!