Changes to referees' panels

Radical restructuring by the IRB

The International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced a radical restructuring of its panels of Test referees.

There is now just one panel of international referees with a supplementary panel of touch judges and television match officials. The panel of international referees is 21 strong.

Having a separate panel of touch judges and TMOs is a brand new idea for the IRB.

The surprise omissions from the referees' list are those of Mark Lawrence, Lyndon Bray and Brett Bowden.

Paddy O'Brien, the IRB's referee manager, said: “A key component of the meeting was a discussion on whether the existing international referee panel was the most appropriate format. Presently there are three panels – a, b and c - with all match officials for Test matches drawn from these panels. With Rugby World Cup 2007 in France fast approaching it was felt that a move to a single 21-man international referee panel was now appropriate, supported by a separate touch judge/television match official (TMO) panel."

“All referee appointments for Tests will be made from this one referee panel. As in the past the make-up of the panel has, and will be, determined by match reviews and assessment. Members of the 16-man touch/judge/TMO panel will not be precluded from movement to the international referee panel and may be appointed to referee at IRB tournaments. The next review of these panels will take place in September when the IRB Selection Committee next meets.

“The Selection Committee also discussed the current system involving reports on match officials from international team coaches. The Panel believes the reports are of great value to the assessment process but expressed disappointment at the low rate of return of these reports. The IRB will be proactive in encouraging coaches to provide referee reports in all forthcoming Tests."

The change came as a result of meetings at the IRB's Under-19 World Championship in Dubai recently.

The new IRB Panel of 21 referees:

Wayne Barnes (England)
Christophe Berdos (France)
Donal Courtney (Ireland)
Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)
Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Matt Goddard (Australia) 
Paul Honiss (New Zealand) 
Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Craig Joubert  (South Africa)
Joël Jutge (France)
Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa) 
Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand) 
Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Nigel Owens (Wales)
Dave Pearson (England)
Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Tony Spreadbury (England)
Steve Walsh (New Zealand) 
Chris White (England)
Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
Scott Young (Australia) 

The new panel of touch judges and television match officials:

George Ayoub (Australia)
Brett Bowden  (Australia)
Lyndon Bray (New Zealand)
David Changleng (Scotland) 
Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)  
Federico Cuesta  (Argentina)
Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Eric Darrière (France)
Rob Debney (England)
Giulio De Santis (Italy)
Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Paul Marks  (Australia)
Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Willie Roos (South Africa)
Hugh Watkins (Wales)
Gary Wise (New Zealand)