- At least three matches each for the 12 appointed referees – four for Owens, Berry, Williams and Gauzere
- Nigel Owens to kick things off
- Peyper to secure 50th test cap
The referees, ARs and TMO appointments for the Rugby World Cup 2019 pool matches have been revealed.
Nigel Owens will have the honour of refereeing the first of the 40 pool matches – as Japan take on Russia at Tokyo Stadium on 20 September. He also kicked-off this RWC qualifying process in Jamaica in 2016 so is fitting that he starts the 44-day global celebration of rugby and its values.
South Africa’s Jaco Peyper is scheduled to get his 50th cap when he takes charge of Japan versus Samoa at the City of Toyota Stadium on 5 October. That’s if nothing stops him refereeing his Rugby Championship or RWC warm-up matches.
Luke Pearce (Eng), Mathieu Raynal (Fra), Ben O’Keeffe (NZ), Nic Berry (Aus) and Angus Gardner (Aus) will all make Rugby World Cup refereeing debuts in the early days of the tournament.
With matches taking place across 12 venues the length and breadth of Japan, the appointments reflect the need for optimal load management, including preparation, travel and recovery time.
Appointments panel
The appointments were made by the World Rugby Match Officials Selection Committee comprising Chairman Anthony Buchanan (Council member), Joel Jutge (EPCR), Lyndon Bray (SANZAAR), Nick Mallett (former international coach and Rugby Committee Member) and Alain Rolland (World Rugby).
Japanese camp
With significant strength in depth in international officiating, the team was selected on merit after a comprehensive review of performances and features an exciting and strong blend of experience and youth and follows a hugely productive match officials camp in Japan last week focusing on team culture, processes and alignment.
World Rugby Match Officials Selection Committee Chairman Anthony Buchanan said: “We are building strong momentum towards Rugby World Cup 2019, and I am delighted to say that there is a very strong team ethic across the match officials group, a superb culture and a determination to perform at their best at Asia’s first Rugby World Cup.
“The announcement of the appointments for the pool stage is another major milestone on that journey. Each referee has at least three pool matches, and the selections have been made with optimal preparation in mind. There is a great deal of excitement within the group and they are working extremely hard to ensure clear and consistent decision-making in all respects.”
Rugby World Cup 2019 pool matches
All kick-off times mentioned are local times in Japan.
Japan v Russia
Tokyo Stadium, 20 Sep 2019, 7.45pm
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
ARs: Nic Berry (Australia) & Matthew Carley (England)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Australia v Fiji
Sapporo Dome, 21 Sep 2019,1.45pm
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
ARs: Luke Pearce (England) & Andrew Brace (Ireland)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
France v Argentina
Tokyo Stadium, 21 Sep 2019, 4.15pm
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
ARs: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) & Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
New Zealand v South Africa
International Stadium, Yokohama, 21 Sep 2019, 6.45pm
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
ARs: Romain Poite (France) & Karl Dickson (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
Italy v Namibia
Hanazono Rugby Stadium, 22 Sep 2019, 2.15pm
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
ARs: Nigel Owens (Wales) & Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Ireland v Scotland
International Stadium, Yokohama, 22 Sep 2019, 4.45pm
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
ARs: Pascal Gauzere (France) & Alexandre Ruiz (France)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
England v Tonga
Sapporo Dome, 22 Sep 2019, 7.15pm
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
ARs: Mathieu Raynal (France) & Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Wales v Georgia
City of Toyota Stadium, 23 Sep 2019, 7.15pm
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand) & Matthew Carley (England)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
Russia v Samoa
Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, 24 Sep 2019, 7.15pm
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
ARs: Jérôme Garcès (France) & Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
Fiji v Uruguay
Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium. 25 Sep 2019, 2.15pm
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
ARs: Angus Gardner (Australia) & Andrew Brace (Ireland)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Italy v Canada
Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium, 26 Sep 2019, 4.45pm
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
ARs: Wayne Barnes (England) & Karl Dickson (England)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
England v USA
Kobe Misaki Stadium, 26 Sep 2019, 7.45pm
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
ARs: Paul Williams (New Zealand) & Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Argentina v Tonga
Hanazono Rugby Stadium, 28 Sep 2019, 1.45pm
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand) & Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
Japan v Ireland
Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa, 28 Sep 2019, 4.15pm
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
ARs: Jérôme Garcès (France) & Matthew Carley (England)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
South Africa v Namibia
City of Toyota Stadium, 28 Sep 2019, 6.45pm
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
ARs: Nic Berry (Australia) & Andrew Brace (Ireland)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
Georgia v Uruguay
Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, 29 Sep 2019, 2.15pm
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
ARs: Paul Williams (New Zealand) & Alexandre Ruiz (France)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Australia v Wales
Tokyo Stadium,Tokyo, 29 Sep 2019,4.45pm
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
ARs: Luke Pearce (England) & Karl Dickson (England)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Scotland v Samoa
Kobe Misaki Stadium, 30 Sep 2019, 7.15pm
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
ARs: Nigel Owens (Wales) & Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
France v USA
Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka City, 2 Oct 2019, 4.45pm
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
ARs: Wayne Barnes (England) & Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
New Zealand v Canada
Oita Stadium, 2 Oct 2019, 7.15pm
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
ARs: Pascal Gauzere (France) & Alexandre Ruiz (France)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Georgia v Fiji
Hanazono Rugby Stadium, 3 Oct 2019, 2.15pm
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
ARs: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) & Matthew Carley (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
Ireland v Russia
Kobe Misaki Stadium, 3 Oct 2019, 7.15pm
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
ARs: Mathieu Raynal (France) & Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
South Africa v Italy
Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa, 4 Oct 2019, 6.45pm
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
ARs: Romain Poite (France) & Alexandre Ruiz (France)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
Australia v Uruguay
Oita Stadium, 5 Oct 2019, 2.15pm
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
ARs: Jérôme Garcès (France) & Karl Dickson (England)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
England v Argentina
Tokyo Stadium,Tokyo, 5 Oct 2019, 5.00pm
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
ARs: Angus Gardner (Australia) & Andrew Brace (Ireland)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Japan v Samoa
City of Toyota Stadium, Tokyo, 5 Oct 2019, 7.30pm
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand) & Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
New Zealand v Namibia
Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo, 6 Oct 2019, 1.45pm
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
ARs: Luke Pearce (England) & Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
France v Tonga
Kumamoto Stadium, 6 Oct 2019, 4.45pm
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
ARs: Paul Williams (New Zealand) & Matthew Carley (England)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
South Africa v Canada
Kobe Misaki Stadium, 8 Oct 2019, 7.15pm
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
ARs: Angus Gardner (Australia) & Andrew Brace (Ireland)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
Argentina v USA
Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, 9 Oct 2019, 1.45pm
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
ARs: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) & Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
Scotland v Russia
Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa, 9 Oct 2019,4.15pm
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
ARs: Wayne Barnes (England) & Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Wales v Fiji
Oita Stadium, 9 Oct 2019, 6.45pm
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
ARs: Romain Poite (France) & Karl Dickson (England)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Australia v Georgia
Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa, 11 Oct 2019,7.15pm
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
ARs: Jérôme Garcès (France) & Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
New Zealand v Italy
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
ARs: Wayne Barnes (England) & Alexandre Ruiz (France)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
England v France
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
ARs: Nigel Owens (Wales) & Andrew Brace (Ireland)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Ireland v Samoa
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
ARs: Romain Poite (France) & Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
Namibia v Canada
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
ARs: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) & Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
USA v Tonga
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
ARs: Wayne Barnes (England) & Alex Ruiz (Frrance)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
Wales v Uruguay
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
ARs: Luke Pearce (England) & Karl Dickson (England)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
Japan v Scotland
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
ARs: Mathieu Raynal (France) & Matthew Carley (England)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)