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World Rugby confirms its World Cup pool match referee schedule
Jaco Peyper has been appointed referee for the blockbuster 2023 Rugby World Cup opener between host nation France and New Zealand on September 8. It is the second time the South African official has been honoured with an opening night duty as he also took charge of the England versus Fiji match at Twickenham which opened the 2015 World Cup.
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With just over two weeks to go before the latest finals begin, World Rugby have confirmed the match official appointments for all 40 pool matches in France and four referees – England trio Luke Pearce, Karl Dickson and Wayne Barnes along with French whistler Mathieu Raynal – have been given four games each.
A highlight for Pearce is the September 9 Pool C opener featuring Australia versus Georgia at Stade de France, a standout on Dickson’s schedule is the October 6 Pool A clash of France versus Italy, while amongst Barnes’ duties will be the September 24 collision of Wales and Australia in Lyon.
Raynal, meanwhile, has been given the appetising England versus Argentina fixture which kicks off Pool C on September 9 in Marseille. The appointments for the other three English pool matches are Georgian Nika Amashukeli versus Japan on September 17, Peyper versus Chile on September 23 in Lille, and Andrew Brace against Samoa back in Lille on October 7.
One of the most eagerly anticipated pool matches is the September 23 Pool B meeting in Paris between South Africa, the defending world champions, and Ireland, the current No1-ranked side in the world. New Zealand’s Paul Williams has been appointed for this gargantuan fixture.
Elsewhere in that pool, Angus Gardner will be on duty for South Africa versus Scotland in Marseille on September 10 with his fellow Australian Nic Berry pencilled in to referee the October 7 clash in Paris between the Scots and Ireland.
A World Rugby statement read: “South Africa’s Jaco Peyper will referee the Rugby World Cup 2023 opening match between hosts France and New Zealand at Stade de France on September 8. Peyper is no stranger to opening matches, having refereed the England versus Fiji opener at Rugby World Cup 2015 at Twickenham.
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“He will also use a special whistle presented by adventurer Ron Rutland, who is cycling 21,000 kilometres from Auckland to Paris to deliver the whistle and raise money for ChildFund Rugby… England’s Luke Pearce will be in the middle for the final match of the pool stage, the Pool C meeting between Fiji and Portugal in Toulouse on October 8.
“The appointments follow confirmation that the foul play review (bunker) process will operate at Rugby World Cup 2023 after positive initial trials. Teams and match officials enter Rugby World Cup 2023 having jointly agreed guiding principles for officiating. This will promote clarity and alignment.
“In May, a team of Emirates match officials (12 referees, seven assistant referees and seven television match officials) were selected for the showcase event. The team represents nine nations and has more than 700 Test appearances between them. The selection was made on merit.
Joel Jutge, World Rugby’s high performance 15s match official manager, said: “The journey to Rugby World Cup is never easy for match officials. There are fewer roles in sport with as much public scrutiny, but I am proud of how the team has responded to the ups and downs, always being open and acting with integrity.
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“We arrive at the pool phase having worked incredibly hard. We have a strong bond, a superb work ethic and an unwavering spirit. There is respect and understanding between the officials and the teams and we are now focused on playing our part in what promises to be a very special Rugby World Cup 2023.”
- Click here to view the Rugby World Cup 2023 pool phase match official appointments
Comments on RugbyPass
Danny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
35 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
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