Joubert looks to make Olympic cut

Joubert has made the cut, along with three fellow South Africans, for the team of 12 match officials selected for the 2015-16 Sevens World Series.

Joubert will link up with Ben Crouse, Rasta Rasivhenge and Marius van der Westhuizen – and eight new colleagues – following the completion of World Cup 2015 and before the opening round of the Sevens series in Dubai.

He will remain available for 15-a-side duty throughout the season.

The desire from the world's top 15-a-side referees to be a part of the Sevens circuit's match officials' team, heightens the already tough competition for places as excitement builds in anticipation of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

"It is exciting for the Sevens referee team that a high-profile referee such as Craig Joubert has made himself available to try to referee his way into the Olympics," said World Rugby council member and match official selector John Jeffery.

"We all know he is an outstanding 15-a-side referee, and having started his career in Sevens, we are delighted he will be able to bring his experience and expertise into the Sevens group."

Joubert, who will referee France versus Italy in his first World Cup match on 19 September, said: "I'm really excited by the opportunity to again referee on the Sevens series.

"My dream is, through on-field performances, to put myself in a position to be considered for selection to referee at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

"Sevens rugby has progressed significantly since I refereed on the series from 2003 to 2005 and I know that the first step is to prove myself again on field as a capable sevens referee.

"I'll be joining a very experienced and close group of officials on the circuit who I'm really looking forward to learning from and ultimately proving myself to them as a valuable team mate and colleague on this exciting journey for all of us."

The Sevens referee panel: Richard Kelly (New Zealand), Matt O'Brien (Australia), Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Federico Anselmi (Argentina), Craig Joubert (South Africa), Alex Ruiz (France), Nick Briant (New Zealand), Mike Adamson (Scotland), Ben Crouse (South Africa), Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa), Anthony Moyes (Australia) and Taku Otsuki (Japan).

The Sevens World Series have been extended to 10 stops for the 2015/16 season, with Cape Town, Sydney, Singapore, Vancouver and Paris new additions to the circuit.