Neutral refs picked for the Lions Tests
Head coach Ian McGeechan and his Lions squad will have non-South African referees for all but four of their 10-match tour of the country this summer, removing any potential problems with "home decisions".
Although four top South African referees are taking charge of matches on the trip, the three Tests will be handled by totally neutral officials with the agreement of the Springboks and Lions.
New Zealand's Bryce Lawrence will take charge of the First Test in Durban on 20 June, with Christophe Berdos, of France, being appointed for the crucial second match in Pretoria on 27 June while what many hope will be the deciding clash is under the control of Stuart Dickinson, of Australia, in Johannesburg on 4 July.
The Lions can take comfort from the presence in the country of England's Wayne Barnes, Nigel Owens, of Wales, and Ireland's Alain Rolland, the 2007 World Cup Final referee, for key midweek matches while South Africans Marius Jonker, Craig Joubert, Jonathan Kaplan and Mark Lawrence complete the list.
