World Rugby today announced the list of referees, assistant referees and television match officials who will officiate at this year’s Rugby World Cup.
The full list of referees with number of tests officiated in brackets is: Wayne Barnes (RFU, 57), George Clancy (IRFU, 38), JP Doyle (RFU, 12), Jérôme Garcès (FFR, 22), Pascal Gauzere (FFR, 17), Glen Jackson (NZR, 10), Craig Joubert (SARU, 55), John Lacey (IRFU, 13), Nigel Owens (WRU, 60), Jaco Peyper (SARU, 20), Romain Poite (FFR, 39) and Chris Pollock (NZR, 18).
In addition, the full list of assistant referees with their number of tests as AR in brackets is: Federico Anselmi (UAR, 5), Stuart Berry (SARU, 15), Mike Fraser (NZR, 10), Angus Gardner (ARU, 2), Leighton Hodges (WRU, 19), Marius Mitrea (FIR, 13), Mathieu Raynal (FFR, nine).
The television match officials for the six-week tournament are: George Ayoub (ARU, 33), Graham Hughes (RFU, 60) Ben Skeen (NZR, 11) and Shaun Veldsman (SARU, 50).
The selection was made after a comprehensive review of refereeing performances by the World Rugby Match Official Selection Committee.
Chairman of the selection panel John Jeffrey said: “I want to congratulate all 12 referees, the seven ARs and four TMOs, who through very hard work and determination, have made it onto the panel for this year’s Rugby World Cup.
“Since Rugby World Cup 2011, we have been focused on developing a strong panel that can preside over the 48 matches at this year’s tournament. The fact that seven of the referee panel were involved in the 2011 tournament points to the big-match experience that they hold. Indeed, between the 12 of them, they have refereed no fewer than 361 internationals.
“The five referees who were not at RWC 2011 have done very well to progress through their own pathways, in SANZAR, in Europe and from the World Rugby U20 Championship, to make it to the biggest stage of all. The focus for all these match officials at this point is on consistency and performing at the highest level.”
Individual match appointments will be announced in due course.
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
15 replies on “World Rugby announces list of World Cup referees”
No Steve Walsh!!??
He’s retired hasn’t he?
Yep, retired with immediate effect a just before the end of the 6N
Such a relief to see a list of World Cup refs without the names Walsh or Rolland appearing
Wish they could leave out Wayne Barnes, JP Doyle, Jérôme Garcès, Pascal Gauzere, Glen Jackson, Craig Joubert, Jaco Peyper, Romain Poite, Chris Pollock and Romain Poite!
DDD
I would add Clancy and Lacey to that list too. With the money saved from having Owens as the only ref we can buy him his own personal helicopter to fly him from stadium to stadium so that he doesn’t miss any matches.
Selfish of me but Clancy and Lacey won’t ref Ireland otherwise they would be history too – so I agree with your sensible suggestion re helicopter BUT Nigel has a tendency to forget his passport!
DDD
or do they not need passports to get out of the PRINCEPALITY?
Where is Brighty? – that one is for him!
DDD
Referee bashing gets very boring. It’s not easy to always get it right and there are always decisions that we don’t agree with. It seems that anytime a fan’s team is on the wrong end, that that referee is vilified for ever more. I’d hate to see referees as badly viewed and treated in our sport as in football and it’s definitely been going slowly in that direction over recent years.
But don’t you know – Rugby is the new SOCCER.
DDD
Unfortunately, with Wales being in the final, Nigel won’t be eligible to ref it ! ????
OH SWEET JAYSUS!!!! THE UNBRIDLED WELSH ARROGANCE REARS IT”S UGLY HEAD AGAIN!!!!!!!!
😉 lol
DDD
We’re all allowed to dream Denny lad ….????
Well we can expect W+nker Barnes to ref the Wales v Aus game and Wales go out with yet another appalling display from the delightful part-time barrister
Most of panel picks itself although Wayne Barnes must be extremely lucky on recent performances. The inclusion of the very talented and upcoming JP Doyle is certainly merited as is Irish duo of Clancy & Lacy. Nigel Owens followed by Poite remain top of Northern Hemisphere. I do not know enough re Southern Hemisphere selection.