World Rugby have announced the first batch of new RWC-cycle match official appointments for the men’s 2024 Guinness Six Nations. [Edit: Changes made since this post was first published are highlighted below and by a strikethrough in the list]
Fifteen referees representing eight nations will preside over the 2024 tournament which starts on 2 February and starts the cycle towards Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.
Andrea Piardi will become the first Italian to referee a Six Nations match when he makes his debut in the Wales v Ireland match. England’s Christophe Ridley (Fra v Ita) and France’s Pierre Brousset (Ita v Ire*) also debut with the whistle.
There’s a host of AR debut’s as well with Scotland’s Hollie Davidson becoming the first female to run the line in the championship. Also assisting referees for the first time, will be Angus Mabey (New Zealand), Luc Ramos (France), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy), Eoghan Cross (Ireland), Adam Leal (England), Damian Schneider (Argentina) and Morné Ferreira (South Africa).
At the other end of the scale, Jaco Peyper* is the most-experienced referee on the panel with 67 tests and 12 Six Nations matches. Luke Pearce (England) will take charge of his 50th test with Wales v France in Cardiff on 10 March, becoming the 11th referee to reach the milestone.
World Rugby Director of Rugby Phil Davies said, “As we enter a new four-year Rugby World Cup cycle and ultimately the beginning of a new international calendar that will advance test rugby, we are focused on collaborating with unions and competitions to create greater opportunities to identify and develop the next generation of match officiating talent.
“This selection reflects that commitment, but while also crucially retaining the experience that underpins the DNA of modern refereeing. We are also committed to collaborating more closely with international coaches and players to ensure that we shape the future of officiating together.”
*Updates
- Jaco Peyper has retired and so the R4 match Italy v Scotland will now be refereed by Angus Gardner (Aus)
- Luke Pearce replaces Pierre Brousset for R2 Ireland v Italy on 11 February. That becomes his 50th international appointment
Men’s Guinness Six Nations 2024 match official appointments
Round 1 – 2-3 Feb 2024
France v Ireland (Marseille)
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
ARs: Matthew Carley (Eng) & Jordan Way (Aus)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)
Italy v England
Referee: Paul Williams (NZ)
ARs: Nic Berry (Aus) & Pierre Brousset (Fra) Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Aus)
Wales v Scotland
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
ARs: James Doleman (NZ) & Angus Mabey (NZ)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZ)
Round 2 – 10-11 Feb 2024
Scotland v France
Referee: Nic Berry (Aus)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Jordan Way (Aus)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ire)
England v Wales
Referee: James Doleman (NZ)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ) & Hollie Davidson (Sco)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZ)
Ireland v Italy
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra) Luke Pearce (Eng)
ARs: Mathieu Raynal (Fra) & Luc Ramos (Fra)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
Round 3 – 24-25 Feb 2024
Ireland v Wales
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
ARs: Karl Dickson (Eng) & Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
Scotland v England
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ire)
ARs: Chris Busby (Ire) & Eoghan Cross (Ire)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
France v Italy (in Lille)
Referee: Christophe Ridley (Eng)
ARs: Matthew Carley (Eng) & Craig Evans (Wal)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
Round 4 – 9-10 Mar 2024
Italy v Scotland
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SA). Angus Gardner (Aus)
ARs: Karl Dickson (Eng) & Adam Leal (Eng)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
England v Ireland
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
ARs: Andrea Piardi (Ita) & Craig Evans (Wal)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)
Wales v France
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
ARs: Andrew Brace (Ire) & Damian Schneider (Arg)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
Round 5 – 16-17 Mar 2024
Wales v Italy
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (Fra)
ARs: Chris Busby (Ire) & Morné Ferreira (SA)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ire)
Ireland v Scotland
Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng)
ARs: Karl Dickson (Eng) & Christophe Ridley (Eng)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
France v England (in Lyon)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Aus)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Damian Schneider (Arg)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)
