RWC Refs for Quarters 1987-2015
Such appointments are in themselves a great honour – four referees out of the thousands around the globe. But, inevitably, there will be eyes on the four matches to come, three really – the semifinals and the Final.
If you look at the great referees down the years who have refereed quarterfinals and then the matches that followed, there is no pattern to conjure up any sort of surmise for the matches to come.
If you look at 2011, you will see that Craig Joubert refereed a quarterfinal, then a semifinal and then the Final. But if you look at 1999 and 2003, André Watson refereed both finals without ever refereeing a quarterfinal or a semifinal.
The referees who have been appointed to referee quarterfinals are: Brian Anderson, Wayne Barnes (2), Derek Bevan (3), Dave Bishop, Dave Burnett, Jim Fleming (3), Colin Hawke, Fred Howard, René Hourquet, Craig Joubert (2), Joël Jutge, Jonathan Kaplan, Bryce Lawrence, Alan Lewis, Ed Morrison (2), Clive Norling, Nigel Owens (2), Alain Rolland (2), Tony Spreadbury, Steve Walsh (2).
1987
France vs Fiji: Clive Norling (Wales)
Australia vs Ireland: Brian Anderson (Scotland)
Wales vs England: René Hourquet (France)
New Zealand vs Scotland: Dave Burnett (Ireland.
Of them Brian Anderson refereed a semifinal. Kerry Fitzgerald refereed the other semifinal and the Final. Fred Howard refereed the 3rd/4th play-off and Fitzgerald the Final.
1991
Scotland vs Western Samoa: Derek Bevan (Wales)
England vs France: David Bishop (New Zealand)
Australia vs Ireland: Jim Fleming (Scotland)
New Zealand vs Canada: Fred Howard (England)
Jim Fleming refereed a semifinal with Kerry Fitzgerald doing the other. Bevan refereed the Final and Steve Hilditch the 3rd/4th play-off.
1995
France vs Ireland: Ed Morrison (England)
South Africa vs Western Samoa: Jim Fleming (Scotland)
England vs Australia: David Bishop (New Zealand)
New Zealand vs Scotland: Derek Bevan (Wales)
Of them Derek Bevan refereed a semifinal. Steve Hilditch refereed the other semifinal, David Bishop the 3rd/4th play-off and Morrison the Final
1999
England vs South Africa: Jim Fleming (Scotland)
Scotland vs New Zealand: Ed Morrison (England)
Argentina vs France: Derek Bevan (Wales)
Wales vs Australia: Colin Hawke (New Zealand)
Jim Fleming and Derek Bevan both refereed semifinals. Peter Marshall refereed the 3rd/4th play-off and André Watson the Final.
2003
New Zealand vs South Africa: Tony Spreadbury (England)
Australia vs Scotland: Steve Walsh (New Zealand)
France vs Ireland: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
England vs Wales: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
None of these referees refereed semifinals which were refereed by Chris White and Paddy O'Brien. Chris White refereed the 3rd/4th play-off, André Watson the Final.
2007
Australia vs England: Alain Rolland (Ireland
New Zealand vs France: Wayne Barnes (England)
South Africa vs Fiji: Alan Lewis (Ireland
Argentina vs Scotland: Joël Jutge (France)
None of them refereed semifinals which were refereed by Jonathan Kaplan and Steve Walsh, but Rolland refereed the Final. Paul Honiss the 3rd/4th play-off.
2011
Ireland vs Wales: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
England vs France: Steve Walsh (Australia)
South Africa vs Australia: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
New Zealand vs Argentina: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Of them Joubert went on to referee a semifinal and the Final. Alain Rolland refereed the other semifinal and Wayne Barnes the 3rd/4th play-off.
2015
South Africa vs Wales: Wayne Barnes (England
New Zealand vs France: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Ireland vs Argentina: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Australia vs Scotland: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
