At 43 years old, and after 17 years at the highest level, Jaco Peyper announced this Friday that he was hanging up the whistle.
The South African referee therefore officiated his 67th and final international match during the recent World Cup, the quarter-final between Wales and Argentina during which he was injured quickly before being forced to withdraw from the rest of the competition.
The sixth most capped referee in history, Jaco Peyper has officiated at the last three World Cups, also refereeing numerous matches in the Six Nations tournament.
Among his 14 matches refereed in the World Cup, the quarter-final between France and Wales during the Japanese World Cup in 2019 was remembered.
Caught after this meeting imitating the nudge of Frenchman Sébastien Vahaamahina, whom he had expelled, he was suspended for a few months by World Rugby.
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There are always difficult times in high-level refereeing but, since I started, rugby has only been good for me.
It was a great trip, I made many wonderful friends and had the chance to visit many fantastic places around the world.
All things considered, this may be the best time to step away from umpiring and spend more time with my lovely wife and two beautiful daughters, as well as tend more to my growing business interests.
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Bill Beaumont, Chairman of World Rugby, hailed “
a fantastic ambassador for rugby who will be remembered as one of the greatest referees of our sport.
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