World Rugby have confirmed the Emirates Match Official panel for the Junior World Championship 2026 in Georgia.
There are 12 referees and four Television Match Officials from 14 different Unions who have been selected for the expanded age-grade tournament. It kicks off on 27 June to runs to 18 July across the Georgian cities of Tbilisi and Kutaisi.
Selected referees
The referee panel is made up of: Christopher Allison (South Africa), Kevin Bralley (France), Ruairidh Campbell (Scotland), Ben Connor (Wales), Gonzalo de Achaval (Argentina), Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland), Reuben Keane (Australia), Saba Makharadze (Georgia), Luke Rogan (USA), George Selwood (England), David Vosalevu (Fiji) and Morgan White (Hong Kong China).
Keane and White both have previous World Rugby U20 Championship experience, while Ru Campbell also refereed at the World Rugby U20 Trophy in 2024 on home ground in Edinburgh. Jenkinson made his test debut with two matches in the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations.
Four of the group have come through the sevens route, which World Rugby is still a crucial talent identification pathway for XVs. White, Connor, Selwood and De Achaval have all been core parts of the HSBC SVNS Series in 2026.
Saba Makharadze (Georgia) will referee the opening match in Tbilisi between Argentina and USA on 27 June, while Jenkinson will take charge of Italy v Scotland in the first match in Kutaisi.
Except for Georgia games, the home Union will appoint one of the assistant referees. The full Pool list appointments are below.
TMO Panel
Four TMOs complete the panel in Matt Rodden (Hong Kong China), Aled Griffiths (Wales), Paulo Duarte (Portugal) and Francisco González (Uruguay). Griffiths held the role in Italy last year, while the other three have all officiated at an Olympic Games and are now in the 15s pathway.
Strong talent pathway
World Rugby Talent ID Manager, and Tournament Referee Manager, Johnny Lacey said, “The selection of this panel highlights the officials that are coming through our pathway system. It’s great to see all of World Rugby’s regional associations and regional competitions represented. I would like to thank the regional referee managers and regional competition managers for their work and commitment to developing these officials through their competitions.”
Sternum tackle height trial
World Rugby had already announced that a lower tackle height of the sternum will be introduced as a trial in this competition. This is the first time elite rugby has used the sternum rather than the shoulder line – reflecting the success of the moves in the community game.
The U20 Championship trial will include a number of associated law measures designed to protect the character of the sport and all of which have also proved successful at community level. These trials include:
- Allowing for “pick and go” actions near rucks and for players in the act of scoring, where the sternum becomes much harder to tackle below due to the lower ball carrier.
- Sanctioning ball carriers who lead dangerously with their head into contact.
- Permitting double tackles, provided both tacklers make contact below the sternum.
It will only be officiated by the onfield match officials with TMOs restricted to only those incidents where the Head Contact Process is being utilised.
Pool round appointments
Round 1 – Saturday 27 June 2026
Argentina v USA
Referee: Saba Makharadze (Geo)
ARs: GRU appointment & GRU appointment
TMO: Matt Rodden (HKC)
England v Ireland
Referee: Ben Connor (Wal)
ARs: Reuben Keane (Aus) & GRU appointment
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wal)
Wales v Georgia
Referee: George Selwood (Eng)
ARs: Reuben Keane (Aus) & David Vosalevu (Fij)
TMO: Matt Rodden (HKC)
South Africa v Uruguay
Referee: Ruairidh Campbell (Sco)
ARs: David Vosalevu (Fij) & GRU appointment
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wal)
Italy v Scotland
Referee: Robbie Jenkinson (Ire)
ARs: Gonzalo de Achaval (Arg) & GRU appointment
TMO: Paulo Duarte (Por)
New Zealand v Japan
Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
ARs: Gonzalo de Achaval (Arg) & GRU appointment
TMO: Francisco Gonzalez (Uru)
France v Fiji
Referee: Morgan White (HKC)
ARs: Christopher Allison (SA) & GRU appointment
TMO: Paulo Duarte (Por)
Australia v Spain
Referee: Kevin Bralley (Fra)
ARs: Christopher Allison (SA) & GRU appointment
TMO: Francisco Gonzalez (Uru)
Round 2 – Thursday 2 July 2026
Wales v Uruguay
Referee: Robbie Jenkinson (Ire)
ARs: GRU appointment & GRU appointment
TMO: Paulo Duarte (Por)
Argentina v Ireland
Referee: Reuben Keane (Aus)
ARs: Ben Connor (Wal) & GRU appointment
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wal)
England v USA
Referee: David Vosalevu (Fij)
ARs: Kevin Bralley (Fra) & GRU appointment
TMO: Paulo Duarte (Por)
South Africa v Georgia
Referee: Morgan White (HKC)
ARs: Kevin Bralley (Fra) & Ben Connor (Wal)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wal)
France v Spain
Referee: Christopher Allison (SA)
ARs: Saba Makharadze (Geo) & GRU appointment
TMO: Matt Rodden (HKC)
Australia v Fiji
Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
ARs: Saba Makharadze (Geo) & GRU appointment
TMO: Francisco Gonzalez (Uru)
New Zealand v Scotland
Referee: Gonzalo de Achaval (Arg)
ARs: George Selwood (Eng) & GRU appointment
TMO: Matt Rodden (HKC)
Italy v Japan
Referee: Ru Campbell (Sco)
ARs: George Selwood (Eng) & GRU appointment
TMO: Francisco Gonzalez (Uru)
Round 3 – 7 July 2026
Ireland v USA
Referee: George Selwood (Eng)
ARs: GRU appointment & GRU appointment
TMO: Francisco Gonzalez (Uru)
Argentina v England
Referee: Christopher Allison (SA)
ARs: Ru Campbell (Sco) & GRU appointment
TMO: Matt Rodden (HKC)
South Africa v Wales
Referee: Reuben Keane (Aus)
ARs: Luke Rogan (USA) & GRU appointment
TMO: Francisco Gonzalez (Uru)
Georgia v Uruguay
Referee: Gonzalo de Achaval (Arg)
ARs: Luke Rogan (USA) & Ru Campbell (Sco)
TMO: Matt Rodden (HKC)
New Zealand v Italy
Referee: Kevin Bralley (Fra)
ARs: Morgan White (HKC) & GRU appointment
TMO: Paulo Duarte (Por)
Scotland v Japan
Referee: David Vosalevu (Fij)
ARs: Morgan White (HKC) & GRU appointment
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wal)
France v Australia
Referee: Ben Connor (Wal)
ARs: Robbie Jenkinson (Ire) & GRU appointment
TMO: Paulo Duarte (Por)
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