- Nigel Owens set to become the first referee to take charge of 100 test matches
- Joy Neville becomes first female to perform TMO duties in mens internationals
- Karl Dickson and Mike Adamson set to referee first major international matches
- Appointments regionally based, recognising the ongoing impact of COVID-19
Nigel Owens will become the first person to take charge of 100 tests when he referees France versus Italy in the Autumn Nations Cup in November.
That’s the stand out news from the autumn international appointments which have just been published. Owens takes charge of two matches in the new competition, some 17 years after his test debut in February 2003.
Elsewhere, Ireland’s Joy Neville, the Rugby World Cup 2017 final referee becomes the first female to perform Television Match Official duties in a major men’s international competition. She’ll be in the TV truck when Wales face Georgia and Scotland take on Fiji.
Fast track from 9 to first test
The former professional scrum-half pair of Karl Dickson and Mike Adamson will also referee their first respective major tests in October. Former Harlequin, Dickson, will oversee France playing Wales on 24 October, and former Scotland sevens player Adamson will referee England when they play the Barbarians at Twickenham on 25 October. It’s also good to see the Georgian, Nika Amashukeli becoming the first from his country to be assistant referee in a major international competition.
With various travel and quarantining restrictions limiting global movement, match officials will come from regional hubs and will be regularly tested for COVID-19 while following measures that maintain a bubble environment. That may also have impacted on the TMO appointments as only one specialist TMO is being used – Brian MacNeice from Ireland. All other TMOs in these appointments come from the refereeing ranks. One to follow.
Non-neutral refs for Bledisloe
As a result of the current travel restrictions and Covid environment, the respective unions and their coaches have agreed that the two Bledisloe Cup matches between Australia and New Zealand, hosted in New Zealand, can be refereed by non-neutral referees. New Zealander Paul Williams takes charge of the first match on 11 October and Australia’s Angus Gardner, will oversee the second on 18 October.
Returning our sport to normal
Chair of the selection committee Graham Mourie said, “This has been a difficult year for society and sport, and therefore these appointments are an important milestone in returning our sport back to normality with much-needed and anticipated test rugby.
“These selections are geographical in nature to accommodate ongoing travel and quarantine restrictions and the officials will be subject to regular COVID-19 testing in line with World Rugby’s return-to-play protocols.
“The selectors have been impressed with how match officials have maintained focus and fitness during the lockdown and in their performance since the restart, particularly in the area of the breakdown. Lockdown afforded the group time to recalibrate and refocus on on-field priorities and we look forward to seeing everyone back in action next month.”
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont added: “On behalf of everyone at World Rugby, I would like to say a big congratulations to Nigel Owens on selection for his 100th test. It is a remarkable achievement and testament to his passion for refereeing, his character, unwavering dedication to the highest possible performance and fitness standards and his adaptability over an impressive career that has so far spanned 17 years. It will be a massively popular milestone for the sport to celebrate.
“In addition, we would like to congratulate Joy Neville on her TMO appointments. As part of World Rugby’s transformational women’s strategy, we are committed to accelerating development of women in rugby through diversifying and normalising women in leadership positions, both on and off the field. Joy, like all the appointed referees, has earned this opportunity and we look forward to watching the referee panel back out officiating the game at the highest level.”
Bledisloe Cup 2020
NEW ZEALAND V AUSTRALIA
Sky Stadium, Wellington, Sunday 11 October 2020
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) & Angus Gardner (RA)
TMO: Mike Fraser (NZR)
NEW ZEALAND V AUSTRALIA
Eden Park, Auckland, Sunday 18 October
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) & Paul Williams (NZR)
TMO: Mike Fraser (NZR)
Men’s 6 Nations 2020 – Covid 19 Rescheduled Games
IRELAND V ITALY
Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Saturday 24 October
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
ARs: Luke Pearce (RFU) & Mike Adamson (SRU)
TMO: Tom Foley (RFU)
WALES V SCOTLAND
Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, Saturday 31 October
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
ARs: Mathieu Raynal (FFR) & Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Tom Foley (RFU)
ITALY V ENGLAND
Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Saturday 31 October
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (FFR)
ARs: Alex Ruiz (FFR) & Mike Adamson (SRU)
TMO: Romain Poite (FFR)
FRANCE V IRELAND
Stade de France, Paris, Saturday 31 October
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
ARs: Matthew Carley (RFU) & Karl Dickson (RFU)
TMO: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Women’s 6 Nations 2020 – Covid 19 Rescheduled Games
SCOTLAND V FRANCE
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow, Sunday 25 October
Referee: Sara Cox (RFU)
ARs: Joy Neville (IRFU) & Francesca Martin (WRU)
TMO: Ian Davies (WRU)
IRELAND V ITALY
Energia Park, Donnybrook, Dublin, Sunday, 25 October
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
ARs: Nikki O’Donnell (RFU) & Clare Daniels (RFU)
TMO: Neil Patterson (SRU)
WALES V SCOTLAND
Venue: TBC, Sunday 1 November
Referee: Clara Munarini (FIR)
ARs: Beatrice Benvenuti (FIR) & Maria Pacifico (FIR)
TMO: Alain Falzone (FIR)
ITALY V ENGLAND
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma, Sunday 1 November
Referee: Aurelie Groizeleau (FFR)
ARs: Hollie Davidson (SRU) & Doriane Domenjo (FFR)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
FRANCE V IRELAND
Le Stadium, Villeneuve d’Asq, Sunday 1 November
Referee: Nikki O’Donnell (RFU)
ARs: Sara Cox (RFU) & Katherine Ritchie (RFU)
TMO: Claire Hodnett (RFU)
ITALY V SCOTLAND (also acting as RWC Qualifier)
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma, Sunday 6 December
Referee: Joy Neville (IRFU)
ARs: Aurelie Groizeleau (FFR) & Doriane Domenjo (FFR)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Autumn Nations Cup
IRELAND V WALES
Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Friday, 13 November
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
ARs: Pascal Gauzere (FFR) & Alex Ruiz (FFR)
TMO: Romain Poite (FFR)
ITALY V SCOTLAND
Venue TBC, Saturday 14 November
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
ARs: Christophe Ridley (RFU) & Karl Dickson (RFU)
TMO: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
ENGLAND V GEORGIA
Twickenham Stadium, Saturday, 14 November, 2020
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
ARs: Craig Evans (WRU) & Dan Jones (WRU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
FRANCE V FIJI
Venue: TBC Sunday, 15 November
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
ARs: Mike Adamson (SRU) & Andrea Piardi (FIR)
TMO: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
ITALY V FIJI
Venue: TBC, Saturday 21 November
Referee: Romain Poite (FFR)
ARs: Craig Evans (WRU) & Karl Dickson (RFU)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
ENGLAND V IRELAND
Twickenham Stadium, Saturday 21 November
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (FFR)
ARs: Mathieu Raynal (FFR) & Alex Ruiz (FFR)
TMO: Nigel Owens (WRU)
WALES V GEORGIA
Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, Saturday 21 November
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
ARs: Andrew Brace (IRFU) & Frank Murphy (IRFU)
TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU)
SCOTLAND V FRANCE
Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Sunday 22 November
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
ARs: Matthew Carley (RFU) & Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
SCOTLAND V FIJI
Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Saturday 28 November
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
ARs: Craig Evans (WRU) & Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU)
WALES V ENGLAND
Venue: TBC, Saturday 28 November
Referee: Romain Poite (FFR)
ARs: Pascal Gauzere (FFR) & Alex Ruiz (FFR)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)
FRANCE V ITALY
Venue: TBC, Saturday, 28 November
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
ARs: Matthew Carley (RFU) & Mike Adamson (SRU)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
IRELAND V GEORGIA
Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Sunday 29 November
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
ARs: Luke Pearce (RFU) & Andrea Piardi (FIR)
TMO: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
Men’s Internationals – October 2020
SCOTLAND V GEORGIA
Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Friday 23 October 2020
Referee: Alex Ruiz (FFR)
ARs: Mathieu Raynal (FFR) & Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
TMO: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
FRANCE V WALES
Stade de France, Paris, Saturday 24 October
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
ARs: Frank Murphy (IRFU) & Craig Maxwell-Keys (RFU)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)
ENGLAND V BARBARIANS
Twickenham Stadium, London, Sunday 25 October
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
ARs: Nigel Owens (WRU) & Sam Grove-White (SRU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
