What happens if a coach or referee is not BokSmart certified?
Rule- South Africa
- SA Rugby
- BokSmart
- Rugby safety
- All ages
- 2026
- Coaches
- Referees
Under SA Rugby's BokSmart regulations:
On the day
- Referee or assistant referee not certified, or unable to show proof: the match is abandoned, unless a certified referee of the right level can step in.
- Coach not certified: the match is abandoned.
- Coach certified but without proof: the match goes ahead, but the coach may not be on or next to the playing area. They must show their licence to the host on the first working day after the match.
Minimum sanctions (on top of the judicial and disciplinary regulations)
- A referee or assistant referee who officiates without certification: 3-match suspension, which lasts until they are certified.
- A coach or assistant coach whose team plays while they are not certified: 3-match suspension, which lasts until they are certified.
- A referee who lets an uncertified assistant referee officiate, starts a match without the coaches' proof, or lets an uncertified person onto the playing area: 3-match suspension.
- A host province, club or school that lets the match go ahead with uncertified officials or coaches loses the match. The visiting team gets the maximum log points, or the trophy.
Added 22 Oct 2026