2023 Guinness Six Nations match officials announced

• England’s Karl Dickson will referee the opening match between Wales and Ireland in Cardiff on 4 February, while South Africa’s Jaco Peyper will referee the last as Ireland host England on 18 March.

• England’s Wayne Barnes to referee in his 17th Six Nations with Ireland v France his 26th match in Championship history
  
• James Doleman (New Zealand) to make his Six Nations debut with England v Italy at Twickenham on 12 February

World Rugby has confirmed the match official appointments for the 2023 Guinness Six Nations

The competition runs from 4 February to 18 March where 15 match officials from eight nations will take charge of one match each during the championship as the road continues to Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.

As with all internationals, the appointments for the Emirates Match Officials are merit-based and have been made following a thorough review of the November internationals and The Rugby Championship. As usual, the match officials will gather ahead of the window to fine tune alignment and consistency, a constant imperative for the team. 

World Rugby Selection Committee Chairman Graham Mourie said, “As we enter a men’s Rugby World Cup year, our focus is very much on performance and culture as we begin to consider selections for France 2023.

“The more time we have with the group, the better it is for everyone, and we constantly challenge ourselves to be better, to achieve alignment and consistency and strengthen understanding with the teams. As with the November tests and The Rugby Championship, the Guinness Six Nations represents another opportunity for a talented group of match officials with a superb work ethic to help facilitate more excellent tests in what is probably the most competitive period in men’s rankings history.”

2023 Guinness Six Nations Match Official appointments

4 February 2023
Wales v Ireland
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
ARs: Angus Gardner (RA) & Luke Pearce (RFU)
TMO: Tom Foley (RFU)

England v Scotland
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) & James Doleman (NZR)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZR)

Sunday, 5 February 2023
Italy v France
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
ARs: Nic Berry (RA) & Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

11 February 2023
Ireland v France
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
ARs: Matthew Carley (RFU) & Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZR)

Scotland v Wales
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
ARs: Frank Murphy (IRFU) & Chris Busby (IRFU)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)

Sunday, 12 February 2023
England v Italy
Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
ARs: Mathieu Raynal (FFR) & Tual Trainini (FFR)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

25 February 2023
Italy v Ireland
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
ARs: Wayne Barnes (RFU) & Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Wales v England
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
ARs: Andrew Brace (IRFU) & Pierre Brousset (FFR)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)

26 February 2023
France v Scotland
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
ARs: Karl Dickson (RFU) & Andrea Piardi (FIR)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

11 March 2023
Italy v Wales
Referee: Damon Murphy (RA)
ARs: Karl Dickson (RFU) & Chris Busby (IRFU)
TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU)

England v France
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
ARs: Jaco Peyper (SARU) & Andrea Piardi (FIR)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)

12 March 2023
Scotland v Ireland
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
ARs: Wayne Barnes (RFU) & Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (RFU)

18 March 2023
Scotland v Italy
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
ARs: Matthew Carley (RFU) & Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)

France v Wales
Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
ARs: Andrew Brace (IRFU) & Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU)

Ireland v England
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) & Pierre Brousset (FFR)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)