JWC refs for knock-outs stages
The Junior World Championship has reached the tough knock-out stage where the two semifinals will take centre stage.
The IRB has announced the referees for these matches.
The Championship is not just about getting a winner.
It's also about ranking the teams and the one which comes 12th will drop down to the Junior World Rugby Trophy next t-year, their place taken by Japan who won the Trophy this year.
Appointments for semifinals
Ninth Place Semifinal
Argentina vs Fiji at ECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: tba
Assessor: Andrew Cole
Italy vs Scotland at ECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe
Referee: Joaquin Montes (Uruguay)
Assistant referees: Vlad Iordachescu (Romania), tba
Assessor: Lyndon Bray
Fifth Place Semifinal
Australia vs Samoa at QBE Stadium, Auckland
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant referees: tba
Assessor: Donal Courtney
Wales vs France at ECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe
Referee: Matt O'Brien (Australia)
Assistant referees: Vlad Iordachescu (Romania), tba
Assessor: Lyndon Bray
Semifinals
England vs Ireland at QBE Stadium, Auckland
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Alex Ruiz (France), Akihisa Aso (Japan)
Assessor: Clayton Thomas
South Africa vs New Zealand at QBE Stadium, Auckland
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Alex Ruiz (France), Akihisa Aso (Japan)
Assessor: Donal Courtney
