A Storied Captains’ Fall: Johnny Sexton’s Alleged Tirade and Jaco Peyper’s Rise to Rugby World Cup

by
1 min read
rugby world cup match officials

The Rugby world is currently buzzing with news about two players whose fortunes couldn’t be any more different. Johnny Sexton, the Irish veteran flyhalf and esteemed captain of Leinster, is facing allegations of misconduct. Meanwhile, South African referee Jaco Peyper has been selected for the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.

Sexton’s Alleged Misconduct

Last month, Leinster suffered a shocking defeat against La Rochelle in the Champions Cup. Sexton, who was absent due to injury, allegedly verbally attacked the match officials after the game. Reports suggest that Sexton hurled derogatory remarks at the officials, even going as far as calling them a “f***ing disgrace.” A video obtained by Sunday newspaper, Rapport, corroborates these claims. City A.M. has reported that Sexton is facing three counts of misconduct and could be banned for up to 10 weeks.

Newsletter

Stay Informed • Cape Town

Get breaking news, events, and local stories delivered to your inbox daily. All the news that matters in under 5 minutes.

Join 10,000+ readers
No spam, unsubscribe anytime

Peyper’s Selection for Rugby World Cup

In contrast, South African referee Jaco Peyper’s fortunes are on the rise. Peyper has been selected for the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, along with Marius Jonker, also from South Africa. This will be Peyper’s third consecutive Rugby World Cup, while Jonker will be experiencing his third tournament, having served as a referee and a TMO in previous editions.

Diverse Group of Officials

The Rugby World Cup 2023’s match official contingent comprises 26 Emirates Match Officials from nine nations, bringing a cumulative experience of over 630 test appearances. The officials include 12 referees, seven assistant referees, and seven Television Match Officials. The merit-based selection also features accomplished referees such as England’s Wayne Barnes and the first Georgian match official, Nika Amashukeli.

Joy Neville from Ireland has been selected as the first woman to officiate at a men’s Rugby World Cup, taking up the role of TMO. This diverse group of officials represents Australia, England, France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, and Wales. Collectively, the 12 referees have 453 tests under their belts, with eight having refereed at a Rugby World Cup.

Pool Phase Appointments

The appointments for the Rugby World Cup pool phase will be announced following the conclusion of the Rugby Championship and Rugby World Cup preparation matches.

While the drama surrounding Sexton’s alleged misconduct unfolds, the Rugby community is also celebrating the inclusion of diverse and groundbreaking officials such as Neville and Amashukeli. With Peyper standing tall among the match officials, the stage is set for an eventful Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, while Sexton’s fate remains uncertain.

Tags:

You might be interested in

View all

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

mariah carey la pride
Previous Story

Mariah Carey’s Iconic Performance at Los Angeles Pride

rugby championship world cup warm-up matches Cape Town
Next Story

Springboks Gear Up for Rugby Championship and World Cup Warm-Up Matches

Latest from Blog

{"tags": ["South Africa" "National Assembly"

Forging a Path to Enhanced Executive Oversight

South Africa is making big changes to keep a close eye on its top leaders! They made a new special committee in their parliament to watch the President. This committee will make sure the President and their office are doing things right and spending money wisely. They looked at how other countries do this to learn the best ways. This means more openness and trust, making sure everyone in power is held accountable to the people.

Cape Town Sporting Events

Cape Town’s Unmissable Weekend of Sporting Action

Cape Town is bursting with sports action from December 5th to 7th, 2025! You can cheer for the Proteas Women’s cricket team at Newlands against Ireland. Then, get ready for super exciting rugby sevens at DHL Stadium with the SVNS Cape Town tournament. And don’t miss Cape Town City FC playing football at Athlone Stadium. It’s a weekend full of thrills and fun for everyone!

South African cheese World Cheese Awards

South Africa Shines on the Global Cheese Stage

South African cheesemakers dazzled at the 2025 World Cheese Awards in Switzerland! They won many shiny medals, including two top Super Gold awards for Klein River Cheese’s Babylonstoren Parmesan and Dalewood Fromage’s Boland cheese. Nellie Fischer was even named the Best Female Cheesemaker. This big win makes South Africa super proud and shows their amazing cheese is now famous all over the world!

Mozambique South Africa

Renewing the Mozambique-South Africa Partnership: Highlights from the 4th Bi-National Commission

Mozambique and South Africa just held their 4th big meeting, the BiNational Commission, in Maputo. Their leaders, Presidents Ramaphosa and Chapo, met to make their countries even closer friends. They talked about important things like making their economies stronger, keeping everyone safe, and helping people thrive. This meeting helps them work together on many projects, from big gas plants to fighting sickness, making life better for everyone in both countries.

South Africa Mozambique

Deepening South Africa-Mozambique Ties: Progress and Prospects from the Fourth Bi-National Commission

South Africa and Mozambique are like old friends, working together to make things better. They talk a lot about how to help each other, especially with money, jobs, and safety. They remember their shared past of fighting for freedom, which makes their bond super strong. Now, they’re building roads, sharing power, and helping each other stay healthy and safe. This teamwork helps both countries grow and makes the whole neighborhood stronger.