World Cup Officials Prepare
The match officials are having their first preparatory meeting for the 2-015 Rugby World Cup with a gathering at friendly Arcachon between the sea and the vineyards.
Arcachon is a seaside town where swimming in the Atlantic is popular and the population small, just near the Landes forest and 50km or so down from Bordeaux, in the heart of rugby and wine country.
All of the match officials have gather there with Joël Jutge, World Rugby's manager of referees.
At the meeting are the 12 referees, seven assistant referees and four television match officials who will be involved in the World Cup matches in England.
The most experienced Test referee is Nigel Owens with 50 Tests, followed by Wayne Barnes (57) and Craig Joubert (55). The twelve referees are: Wayne Barnes and JP Doyle of England, Romain Poite, Jérôme Garcès and Pascal Gauzère of France, George Clancy and Jonny Lacey of Ireland, Glen Jackson and Chris Pollock of New Zealand, Craig Joubert and Jaco Peyper of South Africa and Nigel Owens of Wales.
The seven assitant referees are all active Test referees – Federico Anselmi of Argentina, Stuart Berry of South Africa, Mike Fraser of New Zealand, Angus Gardner of Australia, Leighton Hodges of Wales, Marius Mitrea if Italy and Mathieu Raynal of France.
The four TMOs are all experienced men. Graham Hughes has been the TMO for 60 Tests and Shaun Veldsman for 50. The four are George Ayoub of Australia, Graham Hughes of England, Ben Skeen of New Zealand and Shaun Veldsman of South Africa.
23 good men and true – a small group with big responsibilities.
