World Rugby reveals referee for Boks v France showdown in Paris
NEWS: World Rugby has confirmed the Match Official appointments for the November internationals as teams look to secure the best ranking possible ahead of the World Cup 2027 Draw in December.
Thirty-four of the 42 matches between October 18 and November 29 are tests, with 23 referees from 11 nations set to officiate these matches across four of World Rugby’s six regional associations.
Ten referees will each take charge of two test matches.
Australian Angus Gardner will referee the high-profile Le Crunch clash between France and South Africa, a repeat of the 2023 World Cup quarterfinal, which the Springboks won 29-28 before going on to claim the tournament title.
Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) and Christophe Ridley (England) will assist Gardner, with Ian Tempest (England) serving as TMO.
New Zealand’s James Doleman will oversee South Africa’s test against Italy in Turin.
Meanwhile, Ireland will host the Springboks with an all-English panel: Matthew Carley as referee, assisted by Karl Dickson and Christophe Ridley, with Andrew Jackson as TMO.
Luc Ramos (France) will take charge of the final match, Wales v South Africa in Cardiff on November 29.
In other news, Morgan White (Hong Kong, China) will referee the first match, between Japan XV and Australia A on October 18.
White is one of four referees from the World Rugby U20 Championship 2025 to take charge of matches; Ben Breakspear (Wales), Jérémy Rozier (France), and Tomás Bertazza (Argentina) are the others.
Breakspear, who refereed the World Rugby U20 Championship final in July, will referee Romania vs Canada on November 8, while Bertazza takes charge of Spain vs Ireland A on the same day, and Rozier oversees Romania vs Uruguay a fortnight later.
RWC 2025 final referee Hollie Davidson will take charge of two tests, including Wales vs New Zealand in Cardiff on November 22.
Saturday, November 1
South Africa v Japan
(Wembley Stadium, London)
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) & Adam Leal (RFU)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
Saturday, November 8
France v South Africa
(Stade de France, Saint-Denis)
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU) & Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
Saturday, November 15
Italy v South Africa
(Allianz Stadium, Turin)
Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) & Jérémy Rozier (FFR)
TMO: Tual Trainini (FFR)
Saturday, November 22
Ireland v South Africa
(Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (RFU) & Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
Saturday, November 29
Wales v South Africa
(Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Referee: Luc Ramos (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (RFU) & Pierre Brousset (FFR)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
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