Persona Non Grata?

One person who won’t be visiting TripAdvisor’s number one world destination this year is controversial Kiwi rugby ref, Bryce Lawrence, the man widely blamed by South African rugby fans for futzing up the Springboks chances of a Finals encounter at last year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. A New Zealand rugby mag pointed out yesterday that Lawrence has not been given any South African games to referee.

Still, all that trouble was last year, right? And Lawrence admitted he made mistakes, and was even voted Referee of the Year in 2011. Slightly bloodied water under the bridge, right? Right?

Though SANZAR boss, Lyndon Bray, has not been reached for comment on this scheduling manoeuvre, Lawrence responded that though he had wanted to travel to South Africa and deal with any residual criticism, the SANZAR had likely left him off the schedule to avoid distractions during the upcoming tournament.

A wise move perhaps, because it’s unknown how warm and welcoming Springbok fans are likely to be to the ref who probably killed South Africa’s World Cup bid a mere three months since his controversial turn out during the RWC. In his own words,

From the quarterfinal through the first two weeks after that, it was pretty hectic. I was getting messages [from South Africa] via Facebook and on my e-mails like ‘watch your back when you get here because I’m going to take you out. I can’t wait for you get here so I can spit on you.

The Super 15 kicks off in around a month from now, on February 24th when the Blues take on the Crusaders at Eden Park, the Brumbies take on the Western Force in Canberra, and the Bulls meet the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld.

[Source: TIMES Live]