Peyper gets World Cup opener
South Africa's Jaco Peyper will referee the opening match at this year's World Cup 2015 in England, a Pool A game on September 18 pitching the hosts against Fiji at Twickenham.
The 35-year-old Peyper, who has refereed 20 internationals in his career, will be joined by assistant referees John Lacey of Ireland and Stuart Berry of South Africa – while another South African, Shaun Veldsman, will be television match official.
The appointments for the knock-out stages will be made after the pool stage.
With a further seven matches taking place over the subsequent two days, there is no time for the match officials to ease their way into the tournament gently with no fewer than 22 of the 23 officials involved in some capacity that first weekend.
"With just 79 days to go, the eyes of the sports-loving world are now turning towards World Cup and as the players look forward to taking to the field in September, the same is true for the team of match officials," Chairman of the World Rugby match officials selection committee John Jeffrey said.
"This is what they have been building up to over the past four years and their preparation has been excellent.
"Refereeing is a very demanding discipline, both physically and mentally, so just like the teams, they will have to be at the very top of their game if they are to feature in the closing stages of the tournament.
"World Cup is the biggest stage of all in our game so for these match officials to have been selected in the first place is a great honour and a recognition of their talent, their hard work and their commitment.
"As such, they can all be very proud of their achievements and I wish them all every success during the tournament."
Four South African officials on duty at global event.
Peyper and compatriot Craig Joubert will both handle four matches during the pool stage.
Berry, also, was handed four fixtures as assistant referee while Veldsman will adjudicate 10 matches as TMO.
Joubert's first match in charge of the whistle is the clash between France and Italy on 19 September at Twickenham, a fixture where his countrymen Berry and Veldsman will also be on duty.
The referees: Wayne Barnes, George Clancy (Ireland), JP Doyle (England), Jérôme Garcès (France), Pascal Gauzère (France), Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Craig Joubert (South Africa), John Lacey (Ireland), Nigel Owens (Wales), Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Romain Poite (France), Chris Pollock (New Zealand).
The assistant referees: Federico Anselmi (Argentina), Stuart Berry (South Africa), Angus Gardner (Australia), Mike Fraser (New Zealand, Leighton Hodges (Wales), Marius Mitrea (Italy), Mathieu Raynal (France).
The television match officials: George Ayoub (Australia), Graham Hughes (England), Ben Skeen (New Zealand), Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Appointments
Friday, September 18
England vs Fiji at Twickenham
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Saturday, September 19
Tonga vs Georgia at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Ireland vs Canada at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gauzère (France), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
South Africa vs Japan at Brighton Community Stadium
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant referees: JP Doyle (England), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
France vs Italy at Twickenham
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Sunday, September 20
Samoa vs USA at Brighton Community Stadium
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Wales vs Uruguay at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gauzère (France), Mathieu Raynal (France)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
New Zealand vs Argentina at Wembley Stadium
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: JP Doyle (England), Angus Gardner (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Wednesday, September 23
Scotland vs Japan at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Australia vs Fiji at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
France vs Romania at The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Thursday, September 24
New Zealand vs Namibia at The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Mathieu Raynal (France)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Friday, September 25
Argentina vs Georgia at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Saturday, September 26
Italy vs Canada at Elland Road, Leeds
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
South Africa vs Samoa at Villa Park, Birmingham
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: JP Doyle (England), Angus Gardner (Australia)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
England vs Wales at Twickenham
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Mathieu Raynal (France)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Sunday, September 27
Australia vs Uruguay at Villa Park, Birmingham
Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Scotland vs USA at Elland Road, Leeds
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Ireland vs Romania at Wembley Stadium, London
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Tuesday, September 29
Tonga vs Namibia at Sandy Park, Exeter
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Thursday, October 1
Wales vs Fiji at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Mathieu Raynal (France)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
France vs Canada at Stadium MK, Milton Keynes
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Angus Gardner (Australia)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Friday, October 2
New Zealand vs Georgia at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Mathieu Raynal (France)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Saturday, October 3
Samoa vs Japan
at Stadium MK, Milton Keynes
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
South Africa vs Scotland at St James' Park, Newcastle
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
England vs Australia at Twickenham
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Sunday, October 4
Argentina vs Tonga at Leicester City Stadium, Leicester
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Ireland vs Italy at The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gauzère (France), Angus Gardner (Australia)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Tuesday, October 6
Canada vs Romania at Leicester City Stadium, Leicester
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Fiji vs Uruguay Stadium MK, Milton Keynes
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Wednesday, October 7
South Africa vs USA at The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London
Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Namibia vs Georgia at Sandy Park, Exeter
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Friday, October 9
New Zealand vs Tonga, at St James' Park, Newcastle
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: JP Doyle (England), Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Saturday, October 10
Samoa vs Scotland at St James' Park, Newcastle
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: JP Doyle (England), Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Australia vs Wales at Twickenham
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
England vs Uruguay at Manchester City Stadium, Manchester
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Sunday, October 11
Argentina vs Namibia at Leicester City Stadium, Leicester
Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Italy vs Romania at Sandy Park, Exeter
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Mathieu Raynal (France)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
France vs Ireland at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
USA vs Japan at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
