English referees get the green light to open and close the 2020 Six Nations
England’s Luke Pearce will kick-off a new decade of Six Nations when he takes charge of champions Wales against Italy at the Principality Stadium on 1 February.
Veteran Welsh referee Nigel Owens will make his 98th Test appearance when he referees France versus England at Stade de France the next day, while the World Rugby referee award recipient, England’s Wayne Barnes, will take charge of France versus Ireland at the same venue on March 14, his 90th Test.
The Six Nations match selections – the first since World Cup 2019 – includes a strong blend of experience and emerging international talent with 20 of the 21 match officials involved in Japan 2019 selected.
With World Cup final referee Jerome Garcès having announced his international retirement, Ireland’s Andrew Brace makes his Six Nations refereeing debut while England’s Matthew Carley returns as a referee. Both were assistant referees at Japan 2019.
Mike Adamson (Scotland), Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Frank Murphy (Ireland) and Ben Whitehouse (Wales) return to the squad as assistant referees, while James Leckie (Australia), Glenn Newman (New Zealand) and Brian MacNeice (Ireland) are included in an expanded television match official (TMO) panel after Ben Skeen announced his retirement.
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The appointments were made by the World Rugby match officials selection committee following a full review of performances at the recent World Cup and other elite competitions. World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said: “Just like the teams, the preparation for France 2023 begins now for the match officials.
“Our goal is continuous improvement, accuracy and consistency of decision-making and this selection represents the continuation of that journey with a selection that features a strong blend of huge experience and the best young talent.”
12 years on and that forward pass is still a hot topic ?https://t.co/08FpD2z6p7#AllBlacks @AllBlacks
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 28, 2019
Alain Rolland, World Rugby 15s high performance match official manager, added: “There is a huge amount of excitement and motivation across the team as we head into the first Six Nations of the new decade. We have a strong team ethic, a superb group of match officials and we are excited about the young talent that is coming through the ranks from the under-20 Championship and elite club environment.
“Our goal is always clear, consistent and accurate decision-making and while there is no change in emphasis we will continue to build on what we achieved at World Cup 2019, working with the teams to ensure the best-possible experience for players and fans.”
ROUND ONE
Feb 1 – Wales v Italy (Luke Pearce, England)
Feb 1 – Ireland v Scotland (Mathieu Raynal, France)
Feb 2 – France v England (Nigel Owens, Wales)
ROUND TWO
Feb 8 – Ireland v Wales (Romain Poite, France)
Feb 8 – Scotland v England (Pascal Gauzere, France)
Feb 9 – France v Italy (Andrew Brace, Ireland)
ROUND THREE
Feb 22 – Italy v Scotland (Ben O’Keeffe, New Zealand)
Feb 22 – Wales v France (Matthew Carley, England)
Feb 23 – England v Ireland (Jaco Peyper, South Africa)
ROUND FOUR
Mar 7 – Ireland v Italy (Nic Berry, Australia)
Mar 7 – England v Wales (Ben O’Keeffe, New Zealand)
Mar 8 – Scotland v France (Paul Williams, New Zealand)
ROUND FIVE
Mar 14 – Wales v Scotland (Angus Gardner (Australia)
Mar 14 – Italy v England (Pascal Gauzere, France)
Mar 14 – France v Ireland (Wayne Barnes, England)
WATCH: Crusaders’ Bryn Hall has got into bother for an on-air racist comment
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments