The in-house refereeing contest that's about to play out before our eyes
As aficionados of UK daytime TV doubtless already know, Fifteen to One was a popular Channel Four quiz show in the 1980’s and 90’s which enjoyed a second lease of life between 2014 and 2019.
And following the announcement of the refereeing appointments to the 2023 Six Nations, this is exactly the scenario faced by the world’s top officials as they enter a year in which the last man standing fulfils a lifelong ambition by taking the whistle at the World Cup final at the Stade de France on October 28th.
Like players, the sport’s top referees have one eye focused on appearing at the tenth Rugby World Cup for a couple of seasons prior to the event. Whistlers striving to impress those in power at World Rugby have three international windows each year in which to push their case for inclusion.
The 2023 Six Nations is the last leg in this journey and the competitive nature of getting selected for this year’s World Cup is underlined by that fact that – for the first time in memory – unless injury or illness intervenes, all 15 Six Nations matches will be handled by a different referee.
In 2021 around 70 internationals involving at least one Six Nations or Rugby Championship nation were played in which 19 referees shared whistling duties.
Twelve months later the retired Romain Poite and Pascal Gauzere were replaced at the top table by England’s Christophe Ridley and Italy’s Andrea Piardi which meant once again 19 officials took charge of the 60-odd internationals involving at least one ‘top ten’ nation.
Neither of these latecomers have made the 2023 Six Nations starting grid, while Ireland’s Frank Murphy and Brendon Pickerill of New Zealand who took charge of two ‘top table’ games apiece during 2022 have also missed the latest cut.
If a subliminal message needed sending – and eight months from a World Cup it probably didn’t – the four names absent from that shortlist of 15 already know they will either be watching France 2023 in the company of a touch flag or a beer and a TV set with the rest of us.
But, based on 2015 and 2019, World Rugby will send 12 referees to France 2023 which means three of the men who appear in the Northern Hemisphere’s blue-chip competition over the course of the next couple of months will also miss out.
A pecking order clearly already exists with England’s Wayne Barnes, who is on track for an incredible fifth RWC appearance, and South Africa’s Jaco Peyper who previously whistled at England 2015 and Japan 2019 leading the way.
In addition, second-time World Cup appearances beckon Australia’s Angus Gardner and Nic Berry, France’s Mathieu Raynal, New Zealand’s Paul Williams and Ben O’Keefe and England’s Luke Pearce, while his countryman Matthew Carley was a touch judge and the nominated reserve referee four years ago.
This nine-strong group refereed the majority of the highest-profile recent Autumn Series tests – a reasonable indicator of how World Rugby currently views pressure cooker World Cup knock-out stage appointments. Raynal – who now must overcome injury to take his place in the Six Nations – and O’Keefe were also during the previous summer entrusted with the powder keg which the second and third British & Irish Lions tests became.
Should all these 2019 veterans claim a place at the 2023 showcase, only three of the six remaining Six Nations refs will join them. However, there is more to this than simply picking the best-performing 12 since World Rugby must also have one eye on their age profile and not leaving their 2027 refereeing team short of experience. The 2019 and 2015 tournaments both saw five referees make World Cup debuts – should this trend repeat, two of the nine 2019 vets will therefore miss this year’s event.
Looking at the nine 2019 survivors only Barnes and Peyper look bombproof so the remainder will be very focused on delivering a solid Six Nations performance. Based on his low-profile Autumn appointments to Georgia v Uruguay and Spain v Namibia, the man most at risk is Williams – for me one of the standout performers at Japan 2015 – who takes charge of the Round One Calcutta Cup clash.
Of the six refs seeking to progress from this year’s Six Nations to a first World Cup, Georgia’s Nika Amashukeli appears the rising star having handled Ireland’s meeting with South Africa in the autumn on the back of a Rugby Championship appearance and appointment to South Africa v Wales last summer.
Ireland’s Andrew Brace also appears to be a referee whose career is heading the right way with recent appointments including Australia’s clashes with New Zealand and England.
This leaves England’s Karl Dickson – for whom the recent Owen Farrell controversy has come at the worst possible moment – New Zealand’s James Doleman, Mike Adamson from Scotland and Australia’s Damon Murphy in a closely-contested race for whatever spots remain.
While four Englishmen, three Kiwis and three Aussies take charge of a 2023 Six Nations game, there is plenty of precedent for multiple refs from one country making the World Cup squad – for example France provided four of the 2019 line-up.
Looking further ahead, history tells us that it is extremely unlikely that the final referee will be someone making his World Cup debut; in all probability the four referees retained for the knock-out stages will include a maximum of one new boy.
From a vantage point eight months distant from the tournament, it seems very likely that Barnes and Peyper will fill two of the knock-out stage spots alongside two of Raynal, O’Keefe and Berry.
A quick look at their Six Nations appointments backs this up, with Barnes lined up for defending champions’ France’s trip to Dublin, Raynal handed the traditionally fiery Wales v England clash, O’Keefe taking charge of France’s trip to Twickenham while Berry and Peyper are at the helm for the competition’s closing round when France host Wales and Steve Borthwick’s team visit the Aviva Stadium.
Of course, events can then take over, as we saw in Japan when Nigel Owens was injured during the semi-finals while Barnes and Peyper were ruled out of the final when England and South Africa qualified. This left Garces – a veteran of the 2015 semi-final – to finish his career on the highest stage. Could Barnes’ stellar 100-cap career end the same way? Watch this space…
ROUND 1
Wales v Ireland
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
Assistant Referees: Angus Gardner (Aus), Luke Pearce (Eng)
TMO: Tom Foley (Eng)
England v Scotland
Referee: Paul Williams (NZ)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR), James Doleman (NZ)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZ)
Italy v France
Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng)
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry (Aus), Jordan Way (Aus)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)
ROUND 2
Ireland v France
Referee: Wayne Barnes (Eng)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (Eng), Jordan Way (Aus)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZ)
Scotland v Wales
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ire)
Assistant Referees: Frank Murphy (Ire), Chris Busby (Ire)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ire)
England v Italy
Referee: James Doleman (NZ)
Assistant Referees: Mathieu Raynal (Fra), Tual Trainini (Fra)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
ROUND 3
Italy v Ireland
Referee: Mike Adamson (Sco)
Assistant Referees: Wayne Barnes (Eng), Craig Evans (Wal)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
Wales v England
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (Fra)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (Ire), Pierre Brousset (Fra)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ire)
France v Scotland
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (Eng), Andrea Piardi (Ire)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)
ROUND 4
Italy v Wales
Referee: Damon Murphy (Aus)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (Eng), Chris Busby (Ire)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ire)
England v France
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
Assistant Referees: Jaco Peyper (SA), Andrea Piardi (Ita)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Aus)
Scotland v Ireland
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
Assistant Referees: Wayne Barnes (Eng), Christophe Ridley (Eng)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (Eng)
ROUND 5
Scotland v Italy
Referee: Angus Gardner (Aus)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (Eng), Craig Evans (Wal)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Aus)
France v Wales
Referee: Nic Berry (Aus)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (Ire), Christophe Ridley (Eng)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ire)
Ireland v England
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SA)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ), Pierre Brousset (Fra)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
Comments on RugbyPass
There’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to comments