World Rugby have revealed the the 21 referees – and their assistants and TMOs – for a busy window of men’s July and August international matches.
Including the Lions appointments, there are 44 matches being appointed to, and World Rugby have a selected the 21 referees from eight nations.
There are some notable appointments and matches to highlight amongst them all.
- James Doleman (New Zealand) will make his test debut when Australia face France on 13 July
- Ben O’Keeffe and Brendon Pickerill take charge of the Samoa versus Tonga matches that will decide the Oceania 1 qualifier for Rugby World Cup 2023
- First appointment for Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) in a match involving either a Six Nations or Rugby Championship team (Wales v Canada)
- Amy Perrett (Australia) will act as assistant referee in a men’s international match for the first time with Maori All Blacks v Samoa on 26 June
- Claire Hodnett (England) will become the latest female to act as TMO in a men’s international with two appointments (Ireland v Japan, Wales v Argentina)
- Angus Gardner returns to action after a lengthy injury break (NZ v Fiji) [EDIT 24 June: No he won’t. Damon Murphy now referees the game as Angus isn’t ready as expected]
Chairman of the World Rugby Match Officials Selection Committee Graham Mourie said: “The July tests represent an important milestone for the match officials as they prepare for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France following the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic over the last year.
“A bumper schedule of matches provides an excellent opportunity for a wider group of match officials to take charge of test and representative matches over the period, and we are delighted to see the likes of Nika Amashukeli from Georgia making his debut in a test involving a Six Nations team.
World Rugby Head of Match Officials Joël Jutge added: “With just over two years to go until Rugby World Cup 2023 and elite and international rugby returning around the world, the July internationals provide an important opportunity to build momentum, further develop our culture across the team of officials and focus on consistency of decision-making.
“I have been pleased by how the team of match officials have responded to the challenge of the pandemic despite several not being able to perform on the international stage. We have developed a strong bond and culture and we are ready for what will be a very busy July and August.”
Good luck to all the officials involved!
Summer international men’s matches
(updated 24/6/21 – following injuries to Romain Poite, Angus Gardner and Pascal Gauzere’s retirement)
Maori All Blacks v Samoa
Saturday 26 June 2021, Sky Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
ARs: Jordan Way (RA) & Amy Perrett (RA)
TMO: Angus Gardner (RA) Brendon Pickerill (NZ)
South Africa v Georgia
Friday 2 July 2021 – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
ARs: Frank Murphy (IRFU) & Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
Maori All Blacks v Samoa
Saturday 3 July 2021, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Referee: Mike Fraser (NZR)
ARs: Paul Williams (NZR) & Brendon Pickerill (NZR)
TMO: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
New Zealand v Tonga
Saturday 3 July 2021 – Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Referee: Damon Murphy (RA)
ARs: Angus Gardner (RA) & Jordan Way (RA) & Amy Perrett (RA)
TMO: James Leckie (RA)
Ireland v Japan
Saturday 3 July 2021 – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
ARs: Luke Pearce (RFU) & Andrea Piardi (FIR)
TMO: Claire Hodnett (RFU)
Wales v Canada
Saturday 3 July 2021 – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
ARs: Christophe Ridley (RFU) & Tom Foley (RFU)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (RFU)
Romania v Argentina
Saturday 3 July 2021 – Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
ARs: Craig Evans (WRU) & Adam Jones (WRU)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
England v USA
Sunday 4 July 2021 – Twickenham Stadium, England
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
ARs: Romain Poite (FFR) & Andrea Piardi (FIR) & Ben Blain (Sco)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
Australia v France
Wednesday 7 July 2021 – Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
ARs: James Doleman (NZR) & Mike Fraser (NZR)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZR)
South Africa v Georgia
Friday 9 July 2021 – Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)
ARs: Mike Adamson (SRU) & Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
New Zealand v Fiji
Saturday 10 July 2021 – Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
ARs: Angus Gardner (RA) & Damon Murphy (RA) & Graham Cooper (RA)
TMO: James Leckie (RA)
Samoa v Tonga
Saturday 10 July 2021 – Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
ARs: James Doleman (NZR) & Mike Fraser (NZR)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZR)
England v Canada
Saturday 10 July 2021 – Twickenham Stadium, London
Referee: Romain Poite (FFR) Craig Evans (Wal)
ARs: Pascal Gaüzère (FFR) & Pierre Brousset (FFR) & Chris Busby (Ire)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
Romania v Scotland
Saturday 10 July 2021 – Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
ARs: Christophe Ridley (RFU) & Tom Foley (RFU)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (RFU)
Ireland v USA
Saturday 10 July 2021 – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
ARs: Adam Jones (WRU) & Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
Wales v Argentina
Saturday 10 July 2021 – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
ARs: Luke Pearce (RFU) & Karl Dickson (RFU)
TMO: Claire Hodnett (RFU)
Australia v France
Tuesday 13 July 2021 – AAMI Park, Melbourne
Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
ARs: Paul Williams (NZR) & Mike Fraser (NZR)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZR)
Samoa v Tonga
Saturday 17 July 2021 – FMG Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand
Referee: Brendon Pickerill (NZR)
ARs: Dan Waenga (NZR) & Angus Mabey (NZR)
TMO: Chris Hart (NZR)
Georgia v Scotland
Saturday 17 July 2021 – Tiblisi, Georgia
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
ARs: Pascal Gaüzère (FFR) & Chris Busby (IRFU) & Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
Wales v Argentina
Saturday 17 July 2021 – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
ARs: Matthew Carley (RFU) & Karl Dickson (RFU)
TMO: Tom Foley (RFU)
New Zealand v Fiji
Saturday 17 July 2021 – FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA) Damon Murphy (RA)
ARs: Damon Murphy (RA) & Jordan Way (RA) & Graham Cooper (RA)
TMO: James Leckie (RA)
Australia v France
Sunday 18 July 2021 – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
ARs: Paul Williams (NZR) & Mike Fraser (NZR)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZR)