Tappe Henning named Head of Match Officials for URC

Former South African referee Tappe Henning has been appointed as the Head of Match Officials for the United Rugby Championship (URC).

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Henning succeeds England’s Greg Garner, who occupied the position since 2017 when the competition was still known as the PRO14.

Tappe Henning’s new duties are plentiful

Henning’s duties include match official selection for URC fixtures, identifying new refereeing talent and leading the review and analysis process for officials in the competition.

Commenting on his appointment, Henning said he hoped to help encourage positive play in the competition by fostering a collaborative approach between officials and coaches.

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“I am extremely excited about the cross-hemisphere competition of the United Rugby Championship and the goal of bringing together north and south to create a collaborative approach which will encourage positive play,” he said.

“With so many differing styles of play in the URC it will require a big effort from myself, our match officials, the clubs and their coaches to mutually agree on our core principals so everyone knows what to expect. With a partnership based on mutual respect towards the different rugby cultures and playing styles – coaches and match officials can work towards a product that will be unique to the rugby world.”

Tappe Henning has spent the last eight years as the Scottish Rugby Union’s Referee Commissioner.

He refereed in 14 Test matches, and in 1995, aged 34, he became the youngest referee of a Currie Cup final to date.

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