Five referees who have been included on the Rugby World Cup 2023 match official panel have been appointed to take charge of the Springboks’ Castle Lager Rugby Championship and RWC warm-up Tests in the build-up to the international extravaganza in France in September and October.
The two South African match officials who are on the RWC panel, Jaco Peyper (referee) and Marius Jonker (Television Match Official) were also handed a number of appointments for the international season, which kicks off in July.
Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand) will officiate the Springboks’ sold-out Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash against Australia in Pretoria on Saturday 8 July, while Mathieu Raynal (France) will hold the whistle in their Test against New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday 15 July. Ireland’s Andrew Brace will be taking charge of their final Test in the competition, against Argentina in Johannesburg on Saturday 29 July.
Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) will preside over the first of the Boks’ three RWC warm-up games, against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday 5 August, with Brace officiating their clash against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday 19 August, and Matthew Carley (England) taking charge of the highly-anticipated match against the All Blacks in London on Friday 25 August.
Peyper, meanwhile, will officiate three internationals: the Castle Lager Rugby Championship match between Australia and Argentina in Sydney (Saturday 15 July), where Jonker will be on TMO duty; and two Rugby World Cup warm-up games between Georgia and the USA (venue to be confirmed, on Saturday 19 August), and England vs Fiji (in London on Saturday 26 August).
Jonker will also serve as the TMO in the Bledisloe Cup encounter between New Zealand and Australia in Dunedin on Saturday, 5 August.
| Japan XV v All Blacks XV Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo Saturday, 8 July, 2023 |
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU) Assistant Referee 1: Tual Trainini (FFR) Assistant Referee 2: JRFU Appt TMO: Stuart Terheege (RFU) |
| Japan v All Blacks XV EGAO Kenko Stadium, Kumamoto Saturday, 15 July, 2023 |
Referee: Tual Trainini (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Mike Adamson (SRU) Assistant Referee 2: JRFU Appt TMO: Stuart Terheege (RFU) |
| Japan v Samoa Sapporo Dome, Sapporo Saturday, 22 July, 2023 |
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Jordan Way (RA) Assistant Referee 2: Pierre Brousset (FFR) TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR) |
| Fiji v Tonga Churchill Park, Lautoka Saturday, 22 July, 2023 |
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: James Doleman (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Michael Winter (NZR) |
| Samoa v Fiji Apia Park, Apia Saturday, 29 July, 2023 |
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA) Assistant Referee 1: James Doleman (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: RA |
| Japan v Tonga Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Osaka Saturday, 29 July, 2023 |
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Damon Murphy (RA) Assistant Referee 2: Jordan Way (RA) TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR) |
| Scotland v Italy BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh Saturday, 29 July, 2023 |
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Mathieu Raynal (FFR) Assistant Referee 2: Adam Leal (RFU) TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU) |
| Uruguay v Chile Estadio Charrua, Montevideo Saturday, 29 July, 2023 |
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Damian Schneider (UAR) Assistant Referee 2: Nehuen Jauri Rivero (UAR) |
| Namibia v Argentina XV Estadio Charrua, Montevideo Saturday, 29 July, 2023 |
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU) Assistant Referee 1: Damian Schneider (UAR) Assistant Referee 2: Francisco Gonzalez (URU) |
| New Zealand v Australia Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Saturday, 5 August, 2023 |
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Wayne Barnes (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Christophe Ridley (RFU) TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU) |
| Argentina v South Africa Velez Sarsfield Stadium, Buenos Aires Saturday, 5 August, 2023 |
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU) Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Brace (IRFU) Assistant Referee 2: Chris Busby (IRFU) TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU) |
| Japan v Fiji Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo Saturday, 5 August, 2023 |
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: James Doleman (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: TBC TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZR) |
| Scotland v France BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh Saturday, 5 August, 2023 |
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Frank Murphy (IRFU) Assistant Referee 2: Federico Vedovelli (FIR) TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU) |
| Ireland v Italy Aviva Stadium, Dublin Saturday, 5 August, 2023 |
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Pierre Brousset (FFR) Assistant Referee 2: Luc Ramos (FFR) TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR) |
| Wales v England Principality Stadium, Cardiff Saturday, 5 August, 2023 |
Referee: Nic Berry (RA) Assistant Referee 1: Mike Adamson (SRU) Assistant Referee 2: Andrea Piardi (FIR) TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU) |
| Chile v Argentina XV TBC Saturday, 5 August, 2023 |
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU) Assistant Referee 1: Francisco Gonzalez (URU) Assistant Referee 2: Matias Esteban (URU) |
| Uruguay v Namibia Estadio Charrua, Montevideo Saturday, 5 August, 2023 |
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Damian Schneider (UAR) Assistant Referee 2: Nehuen Jauri Rivero (UAR) |
| Romania v USA Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest Saturday, 5 August, 2023 |
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU) Assistant Referee 1: Hollie Davidson (SRU) Assistant Referee 2: Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU) TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU) |
| England v Wales Twickenham Stadium, London Saturday, 12 August, 2023 |
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU) Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Brace (IRFU) Assistant Referee 2: Andrea Piardi (FIR) TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU) |
| Chile v Namibia Estadio Germán Becker, Temuco Saturday, 12 August, 2023 |
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU) Assistant Referee 1: Francisco Gonzalez (URU) Assistant Referee 2: Matias Esteban (URU) |
| Georgia v Romania TBC Saturday, 12 August, 2023 |
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Christophe Ridley (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Federico Vedovelli (FIR) TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR) |
| Portugal v USA Algarve Saturday, 12 August, 2023 |
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Mike Adamson (SRU) Assistant Referee 2: Hollie Davidson (SRU) TMO: Thomas Charabas (FFR) |
| Wales v South Africa Principality Stadium, Cardiff Saturday, 19 August, 2023 |
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU) Assistant Referee 1: Chris Busby (IRFU) Assistant Referee 2: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU) |
| France v Fiji Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes Saturday, 19 August, 2023 |
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU) Assistant Referee 1: Andrea Piardi (FIR) Assistant Referee 2: Federico Vedovelli (FIR) TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU) |
| Italy v Romania TBC Saturday, 19 August, 2023 |
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Adam Leal (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU) TMO: Ben Blain (SRU) |
| Ireland v England Aviva Stadium, Dublin Saturday, 19 August, 2023 |
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Craig Evans (WRU) Assistant Referee 2: Adam Jones (WRU) TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU) |
| Georgia v USA TBC Saturday, 19 August, 2023 |
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU) Assistant Referee 1: Hollie Davidson (SRU) Assistant Referee 2: Luc Ramos (FFR) TMO: Thomas Charabas (FFR) |
| Uruguay v Argentina XV Estadio Charrua, Montevideo Saturday, 19 August, 2023 |
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU) Assistant Referee 1: Damian Schneider (UAR) Assistant Referee 2: Caua Ricardo (CBRU) |
| New Zealand v South Africa Twickenham Stadium, London Friday, 25 August, 2023 |
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Christophe Ridley (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Craig Evans (WRU) TMO: Tom Foley (RFU) |
| Spain v Argentina Estadio Civitas Metropolitano, Madrid Saturday, 26 August, 2023 |
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU) Assistant Referee 1: Luc Ramos (FFR) Assistant Referee 2: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU) |
| Italy v Japan TBC Saturday, 26 August, 2023 |
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Chris Busby (IRFU) Assistant Referee 2: Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU) TMO: Stuart Terheege (RFU) |
| England v Fiji Twickenham Stadium, London Saturday, 26 August, 2023 |
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU) Assistant Referee 1: Pierre Brousset (FFR) Assistant Referee 2: Hollie Davidson (SRU) TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU) |
| Scotland v Georgia BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh Saturday, 26 August, 2023 |
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Tual Trainini (FFR) Assistant Referee 2: Ludovic Cayre (FFR) TMO: Thomas Charabas (FFR) |
| Ireland v Samoa Parc des Sports Jean Dauger, Bayonne Saturday, 26 August, 2023 |
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Andrea Piardi (FIR) Assistant Referee 2: Adam Leal (RFU) TMO: Ian Tempest (WRU) |
| Chile v Argentina XV Santiago, Chile Saturday, 26 August, 2023 |
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU) Assistant Referee 1: Damian Schneider (UAR) Assistant Referee 2: Caua Ricardo (CBRU) |
| France v Australia Stade de France, Saint-Denis Sunday, 27 August, 2023 |
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Christophe Ridley (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Craig Evans (WRU) TMO: Tom Foley (RFU) |
Rugby World Cup 2023:
Referees (12)
Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Wayne Barnes (England)
Nic Berry (Australia)
Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Matthew Carley (England)
Karl Dickson (England)
Angus Gardner (Australia)
Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Luke Pearce (England)
Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Mathieu Raynal (France)
Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees (7)
Chris Busby (Ireland)
Pierre Brousset (France)
James Doleman (New Zealand)
Craig Evans (Wales)
Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Christophe Ridley (England)
Jordan Way (Australia)
Television Match Officials (7)
Brett Cronan (Australia)
Tom Foley (England)
Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
Joy Neville (Ireland)
Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
The Rugby Championship 2023
| South Africa v Australia Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Saturday, 8 July, 2023 |
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Paul Williams (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Andrea Piardi (FIR) TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZR) |
| Argentina v New Zealand Estadio Malvinas Argentina, Mendoza Saturday, 8 July, 2023 |
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA) Assistant Referee 1: Nic Berry (RA) Assistant Referee 2: Jordan Way (RA) TMO: Brett Cronan (RA) |
| Australia v Argentina CommBank Stadium, Sydney Saturday, 15 July, 2023 |
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU) Assistant Referee 1: Paul Williams (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: James Doleman (NZR) TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU) |
| New Zealand v South Africa Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland Saturday, 15 July, 2023 |
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Angus Gardner (RA) Assistant Referee 2: Pierre Brousset (FFR) TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU) |
| Australia v New Zealand Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Saturday, 29 July, 2023 |
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Christophe Ridley (RFU) TMO: Tom Foley (RFU) |
| South Africa v Argentina Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg Saturday, 29 July, 2023 |
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU) Assistant Referee 1: Nika Amashukeli (GRU) Assistant Referee 2: Chris Busby (IRFU) TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU) |
World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series 2023 panel:
Precious Pazani (ZRU)
Jess Ling (RA)
Ano Kuwai (JRFU)
Doriane Domenjo (FFR)
Giana Viljoen (SARU)
Zoe Naude (SARU)
Men’s panel
David Vosalevu (FRU)
Evan Urruzmendi (FFR)
Cauã Ricardo Santos (CBRu)
Robin Kaluzniak (RC)
Morgan White (HKCRU)
Peter Martin (IRFU)
Women’s internationals 2023:
| Spain v USA Estadio Central, UCM, Madrid Saturday, 25 March, 2023 |
Referee: Clara Munarini (FIR) Assistant Referee 1: Maria Pacifico (FIR) Assistant Referee 2: Maria Heitor (FPR) TMO: Felix Villegas (FER) |
| Canada v South Africa Estadio Central, UCM, Madrid Saturday, 25 March, 2023 |
Referee: Kat Roche (USA) Assistant Referee 1: Lorena Martinez (FER) Assistant Referee 2: Jen Lee (FER) TMO: Felix Villegas (FER) |
| Spain v South Africa Estadio Central, UCM, Madrid Saturday, 1 April, 2023 |
Referee: Precious Pazani (ZIM) Assistant Referee 1: Maria Latos (GER) Assistant Referee 2: Adele Robert (BEL) TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR) |
| Sweden v Hong Kong China National Rugby Centre Stadium, Amsterdam Monday, 1 May, 2023 |
Referee: Adele Robert (BEL) Assistant Referee 1: Local appointment Assistant Referee 2: Local appointment |
| Netherlands v Hong Kong China National Rugby Centre Stadium, Amsterdam Saturday, 6 May, 2023 |
Referee: Maria Heitor (FPR) Assistant Referee 1: Local appointment Assistant Referee 2: Local appointment |
| Australia v Fiji Allianz Stadium, Sydney Saturday, 20 May, 2023 |
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Natasha Ganley (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Jess Ling (RA) TMO: Rachel Horton (RA) |
Martini Flower
Sport Trivia: Apart from a team event bronze medal in 1992, Ghana won three other individual Olympic medals in the 20th century. These were all in the same event. Which event was this? Answer: Boxing. Ghanaian boxers won silver in Rome in 1960, bronze in Tokyo in 1964, and Munich in 1972.
Biscuit Meg
Sport Trivia: Who was South Africa\’s first Olympic Gold Medal winner? Answer: Reginald Walker. Reginald Walker was born in 1889 in Natal and in 1907 was the South African 100m champion. He battled with finances to get to London for the 1908 Summer Olympics but once he was there he managed, very unexpectedly to all those competing, to beat the field and walk off with the Gold for the 100m. As at 2005 Reggie Walker was still the youngest winner of the 100m Olympic Gold Medal.