World Rugby has released the list of Emirates World Rugby match officials for The Rugby Championship 2025. The tournament kicks off in Johannesburg on 16 August, ending in Twickenham on 4 October. In charge will be 11 referees representing six nations, and boasting 331 tests worth of experience.
Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand) will take charge of the opening match between South Africa and Australia at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on 16 August, with Andrea Piardi (Italy) to referee the last match between Argentina and South Africa at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on 4 October. Piardi becomes the first Italian to take charge of a TRC match and is the only referee with two matches in the tournament. He will also referee the NZ v Aus in Auckland before heading back home.
Missing and new
For readers who scour the lists, two ‘missing’ names would be England’s Luke Pearce and Ireland’s Andrew Brace. There are some Rugby World Cup qualifiers coming up too, so it’s possible they are heading there, or being rested this time round after gruelling schedules in 2025 to give more top championship experiences for others.
Three TRC debutants with the flags, are assistant referees Morné Ferreira (South Africa), Sam Grove-White (Scotland) and Angus Mabey (New Zealand), who are joined in the rookies tent by Television Match Official, Andrew Jackson (England).
Aiming for Oz
World Rugby High Performance 15s Match Officials Manager Joël Jutge said, “Our collective focus continues to be on delivering the best match officials for the world’s best tournaments. The Rugby Championship 2025 will include some of our most experienced match officials, while at the same time allowing others to gain experience in such a high-level tournament.
“Unashamedly our goal is ensuring we are fully prepared for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia with the match officials’ team performing to its fullest potential, facilitating an exciting game for players and fans. The Rugby Championship represents a major milestone on the journey to Australia for match officials and anticipation is again high for the 2025 tournament as the top talent from Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa do battle for southern hemisphere supremacy.”
Match officials: The Rugby Championship 2025
Sat 16 Aug 2025
South Africa v Australia (Johannesburg)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
ARs: James Doleman (NZ) & Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
TMO: Tual Trainini (Fra)
FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZ)
Argentina v New Zealand (Cordoba)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
ARs: Nic Berry (Aus) & Morné Ferreira (SA)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
FPRO: Damon Murphy (Aus)
Sat 23 Aug 2025
South Africa v Australia (Cape Town)
Referee: James Doleman (NZ)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ) & Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZ)
FPRO: Tual Trainini (Fra)
Argentina v New Zealand (Buenos Aires)
Referee: Nic Berry (Aus)
ARs: Pierre Brousset (Fra) & Morné Ferreira (SA)
TMO: Damon Murphy (Aus)
FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
Sat 6 Sept 2025
New Zealand v South Africa (Auckland)
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Jordan Way (Aus)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Aus)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
Australia v Argentina (Townsville)
Referee: Paul Williams (NZ)
ARs: Christophe Ridley (Eng) & Sam Grove-White (Sco)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
FPRO: Glenn Newman (NZ)
Sat 13 Sept 2025
New Zealand v South Africa (Wellington)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
ARs: Angus Gardner (Aus) & Jordan Way (Aus)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
FPRO: Brett Cronan (Aus)
Australia v Argentina (Sydney)
Referee: Christophe Ridley (Eng)
ARs: Paul Williams (NZ) & Sam Grove-White (Sco)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZ)
FPRO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
Sat 27 Sept 2025
South Africa v Argentina (Durban)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Aus)
ARs: Pierre Brousset (Fra) & Angus Mabey (NZ)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Aus)
FPRO: Damon Murphy (Aus)
New Zealand v Australia (Auckland)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
ARs: Matthew Carley (Eng) & Morné Ferreira (SA)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
FPRO: Andrew Jackson (Eng)
Sat 4 Oct 2025
Australia v New Zealand (Perth)
Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng)
ARs: Pierre Brousset (Fra) & Morné Ferreira (SA)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (Eng)
FPRO: Marius Jonker (SA)
Argentina v South Africa (Twickenham)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Christophe Ridley (Eng)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
