For the first time in some years, and in line with the Bledisloe Cup appointments of recent weekends, World Rugby have announced that non-neutral referees will be overseeing this year’s Tri Nations. With quarantining measures and the need to maintain a bubble, the governing body and SANZAAR have concluded that nation neutrality is not possible this year.
Therefore the team of match officials will come from Australia and New Zealand with Ben O’Keeffe, Paul Williams, Angus Gardner and Nic Berry refereeing. All coaches are supportive of this necessary position.
The match officials are as follows:
Australia v New Zealand (in Sydney)
Saturday 31 October, KO 19:45
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
ARs: Paul Williams (NZ) & Nic Berry (Aus)
TMO: Angus Gardner (Aus)
Australia v New Zealand (in Brisbane)
Saturday 7 November 2020 KO: 18:45
Referee: Nic Berry (Aus)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ) & Angus Gardner (Aus)
TMO: Paul Williams (NZ)
New Zealand v Argentina (in Sydney)
Saturday 14 November 2020 KO: 17:10
Referee: Angus Gardner (Aus)
ARs: Nic Berry (Aus) & Paul Williams (NZ)
TMO: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
Argentina v Australia (in Newcastle)
Saturday 21 November 2020 KO: 19:45
Referee: Paul Williams (NZ)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ) & Angus Gardner (Aus)
TMO: Nic Berry (Aus)
Argentina v New Zealand (in Newcastle)
Saturday 28 November 2020 KO: 19:45
Referee: Nic Berry (Aus)
ARs: Angus Gardner (Aus) & Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
TMO: Paul Williams (NZ)
Australia v Argentina (in Sydney)
Saturday 5 December 2020 KO: 19:45
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
ARs: Paul Williams (NZ) & Nic Berry (Aus)
TMO: Angus Gardner (Aus)