Changes to 6 Nations refs

The International rugby Board has announced that there will be two changes to the appointments of referees to Six Nations matches.

Joël Jutge and Stave Walsh have been withdrawn from their matches. Jutge was to have refereed the Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham and Walsh the Wales-Ireland match at Millennium Stadium. Instead Marius Jonker of South Africa will go to Twickenham and Wayne Barnes of England to Cardiff.

Barnes was to have been the No.1 assistant referee of the match. Dave Pearson moves up to No.1 and Stuart Terheege, a specialist touch judge, comes into the match.

Jutge has had severe trouble with a knee and has not refereed since the World Cup in 2007. He is hopeful of recovery. Walsh has been given time to sort out some personal issues.

The amended appointments for those matches on 21 March:

England vs Scotland at Twickenham
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Touch judges: Christophe Berdos (France),  Simon McDowell
Television match official: Carlo Damasco (Italy)

Wales vs Ireland at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Touch judges: David Pearson (England), Stuart  Terheege (England)
Television match official: Romain Poite (France)