Top job for top ref

Turner turns Golden Lions CEO

Andy Turner, one of the top referees in the world, will referee his last match at Twickenham next month. Then he hangs up his whistle to become the CEO of the Golden Lions Rugby Union. He signed a contract on Friday and will take up his new position on 1 January 2005.

The post has become vacant after Johan Prinsloo moved to become the CEO of SA Rugby.

Turner believes that it is only fair to his new job and to refereeing that he cease refereeing.

We want to welcome Mr. Turner into the Lions fold and we believe that he will prosper in his new surroundings. Mr Turner was first and foremost appointed on account of his vast business experience and managerial skills, said Professor Jannie Ferreira, President of the Golden Lions.

The fact that he is a test referee and as such also has a great interest in rugby is an absolute bonus and can only add to his role here at the Lions. He knows the rugby decision makers and players in the country and he also has a wealth of contacts at international level.

Freek Burger, the manager of SA Referees, said: "On the one hand I am bitterly disappointed that we have lost a top referee, but on the other hand this is rugby's gain.

"Andy has a wide knowledge of the game, lots of experience from school to international level, contacts all over the world and empathy with players and referees.

I believe that his appointment is excellent for the rugby family. I am proud that a referee can be of such a standard as to be appointed to such a big post."

Andrew Daniel Turner was born in Pretoria on Christmas Day 1963. The family moved to the Cape and he went to Hottentots Holland High and Paarl Boys' High. He started refereeing while doing his military training and then joined the Western Province Referees Society.

He refereed his first Test in 2000 - Namibia vs Zimbabwe in Windhoek and as an international Test Referee is on the IRB Panel. He has handled thirteen tests to date. His swansong will be at Twickenham on 4 December when the All Blacks play the Barbarians - a great occasion.

At present Turner is on the International Rugby Board's B Panel, which puts him amongst the top 28 referees in the world. Apart from Tests he has refereed Super 12 and Currie Cup matches.

Turner qualified as a primary school teacher and taught in Stellenbosch before going into business in the medical field. He is the National Business Development Manager at Emergency Services & Evacuations and among his many responsibilities are New Business Development, Networking/Marketing, Research and Financial Management.

Turner said about his new position: I am extremely excited about the opportunity to live out my dream of working in an environment that is also my passion, namely rugby. I want to establish the Golden Lions as a brand globally and I want to help fill this stadium to capacity with our supporters.