SANZAR's (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) head of Referees Lyndon Bray has said that New Zealand Referee Bryce Lawrence's Test career is all but over.

Speaking to Eyewitness News in South Africa Bray said that Lawrence who won last year's NZRU Referee of the Year award for the fourth time would not be officiating Test matches in the forseeable future.

Lawrence was the referee for the Rugby World Cup quarter final between Australia and South Africa and his performance led to much anger in South Africa as they ended the match on the losing side.

The New Zealand Referee has been charge of Super Rugby matches this season but has not travelled to South Africa allegedly as he fears for his safety following numerous threats from South African rugby fans.

Lawrence was removed from the International Rugby Board (IRB) elite panel of referees in March this year.

"From an IRB perspective he has not been selected in the test, " Bray told Eyewitness News.

"There's a decision that we as selectors in the IRB made back in March. His time is over at that level."

Bray added that as Lawrence would not travel to South Africa it is highly unlikely that he would get back to Test level.

"At this stage he is clearly not on the team. His challenge would be, if it's possible, to find his way back again. "

"And I think given the reality and what he's gone through and the situation he's in at the moment that would be a huge ask."