The IRB have announced the referees for the Rugby Championship after reviewing the performances in the June internationals, with Jerome Garces getting the Boks vs All Blacks in Wellington.
The Rugby Championship opener between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney on August 16 will be refereed by South Africa’s Jaco Peyper. The appointments for the 12 fixtures feature a blend of northern and southern hemisphere match officials selected on form.
The selection system allows for movement in and out of the panel based on form and rewards the top performers and young referees who have graduated through the performance pathway ahead of Rugby World Cup 2015 in England.
The IRB Match Official Selection Committee, chaired by John Jeffrey, comprises former elite referees Lyndon Bray (Sanzar), Andrew Cole (Sanzar), Donal Courtney (European Rugby Champions Cup), Clayton Thomas (Six Nations) and IRB High Performance Match Officials Manager Joël Jutge.
The appointments:
Saturday, August 16 2014
17:05 – South Africa vs Argentina, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Steve Walsh (Australia), Marius Mitrea (Italy)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Saturday, August 23 2014
21:40 – Argentina vs South Africa, Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Marius Mitrea (Italy)
TMO: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Saturday, September 06 2014
12:05 – Australia vs South Africa, Patersons Stadium, Perth
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Glen Jackson (NZ) and Mike Fraser (NZ)
TMO: Ben Skeen
Saturday, September 13 2014
09:35 – New Zealand vs South Africa, Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Jerome Garces (France)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gauzere (France), Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)
TMO: Peter Marshall (Australia)
Saturday, September 27 2014
17:05 – South Africa vs Australia, Newlands, Cape Town
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England) and Mathieu Raynal (France)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
Saturday, October 04 2014
17:05 – South Africa vs New Zealand, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant Referees: Pascal Gauzere (France) and JP Doyle (Wales).
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
