Referees for Rugby Championship
The 2018 Rugby Championship starts in Sydney on 18 August and ends in Japan on 27 October. The referee to blow the whistle to start the championship is Jaco Peyper.
The teams taking part are Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The referees appointed are Wayne Barnes (England), Angus Gardner, (Australia), Jérôme Garcès (France), Pascal Gaüzère (France), Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand), Nigel Owens (Wales), Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Romain Poite (France), Mathieu Raynal (France).
There are four from France, two from New Zealand, and one each from Australia, England, South Africa and Wales. They could possibly be regarded as the 10 top referees in the world with possible tickets to the 2919 Rugby World Cup.
World Rugby's chairman of its match official selectors, Anthony Buchanan said: “With the Rugby World Cup on the horizon, we are striving to ensure that, once again, we have a top-class group of experienced officials ready to perform at the highest level in Japan 2019."
Rugby Championship Match Officials
18 August 2018
Australia v New Zealand at ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Luke Pearce (England)
Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
South Africa vs Argentina at King's Park, Durban, South Africa
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
25 August 2018
New Zealand vs Australia at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Luke Pearce (England)
Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Argentina vs South Africa at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza, Argentina
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand), Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
8 September 2018
New Zealand vs Argentina at Trafalgar Park, Nelson, New Zealand
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Nic Berry (Australia)
Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England)
Australia vs South Africa at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
15 September 2018
New Zealand vs South Africa at Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gaüzère (France), Nic Berry (Australia)
Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England)
Australia vs Argentina at Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast, Australia
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
29 September 2018
South Africa vs Australia at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Matthew Carley (England)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Argentina vs New Zealand at Estadio Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Television match official: David Grashoff (England)
6 October 2018
South Africa vs New Zealand at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, South Africa
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Matthew Carley (England)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Argentina vs Australia at Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta, Argentina
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (France), Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Television match official: David Grashoff (England)
27 October 2018
Australia vs New Zealand in Japan
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)