Referees for 2017 Six Nations
The old order changeth, giving way to new – not entirely, but there is something of that in these appointments.
Craig Joubert has retired and is no longer there but Ben O'Keeffe and Mathie Raynal are debutants amongst the 12 referees for the 15 matches. Three referees have two matches each – Romain Poite who starts the first match of the 2017 Six Nations, Jérôme Garcès, who blows the final whistle on the tournament, and Wayne Barnes.
South Africa has one referee – Jaco Peyper, plus Marius van der Westhuizen as a new assistant referee and Marius Jonker as a new TMO.
France have four of the 12 referees while New Zealand and England each have two and Ireland, South Africa, Australia and Wales have one each.
Of the 60 appointments to these matches, Italy have one – an assistant referee, while Scotland and Argentina have none at all.
World Rugby's match official selection committee chairman Anthony Buchanan said: "We are very much on the road to Rugby World Cup 2019 now and, as we build our team towards that, we are conscious of the need to provide talented, up-and-coming officials with an opportunity to perform at this level while also ensuring that the best games are overseen by the best referees.
"Ben O'Keeffe is an exciting prospect and, having performed well at Super Rugby level and in some tough test matches this year, we are delighted that he will be taking charge of a Six Nations game for the first time. Equally, Mathieu Raynal has impressed us since really stepping up to the top level this year and fully deserves his Six Nations Championship debut.
"Meanwhile, our focus for this group of elite match officials continues to be clear and consistent decision-making coupled with the highest standards of physical conditioning.”
Coaches are regularly consulted in making appointments such as these.
Appointments
4 February 2017
Scotland vs Ireland at Murrayfield
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
England vs France at Twickenham
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Television match official: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
5 February 2017
Italy vs Wales at Stadio Olimpico
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistant referees: Johnny Lacey (Ireland), Craig Maxwell-Keys (England)
Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England)
11 February 2017
Italy vs Ireland at Stadio Olimpico
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England)
Wales vs England at Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gauzère (France), Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
12 February 2017
France vs Scotland at Stade de France
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Johnny Lacey (Ireland), Luke Pearce (England)
Television match official: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
25 February 2017
Scotland vs Wales at Murrayfield
Referee: Johnny Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: JP Doyle (England), Matthew Carley (England)
Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England)
Ireland vs France at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Luke Pearce (England)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
26 February 2017
England vs Italy at Twickenham,
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (France), Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
10 March 2017
Wales vs Ireland at Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Matthew Carley (England)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
11 March 2017
Italy vs France at Stadio Olimpico
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), JP Doyle (England)
Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
England vs Scotland at Twickenham
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
18 March 2017
Scotland vs Italy at Murrayfield
Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Luke Pearce (England)
Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
France vs Wales at Stade de France
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand), Matthew Carley (England)
Television match official: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Ireland vs England at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (France), Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
