Referees for Rugby Championship
The International Rugby Board has announced the appointment of match officials for the inaugural Rugby Championship, which begins on 18 August, 2012. The only surprise is the rapid return of Wayne Barnes.
Appointments were made by the IRB Match Official Selection Committee following a detailed review of performances during the recent June tours and Tests.
The IRB's press release said: "The IRB's commitment to promoting consistency by enabling movement in and out of the group and rewarding referees who are in form is reflected in the selection of nine match officials with Wayne Barnes (England) returning following a strong showing in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup."
The referees are: Alain Rolland (Ireland), Steve Walsh (Australia), Nigel Owens (Wales), Romain Poite (France), Wayne Barnes (England), George Clancy (Ireland), Jaco Peyper (South Africa) and Craig Joubert (South Africa).
Just after the conclusion of the Six Nations, the IRB drew up a new panel. They are: George Clancy (Ireland), Jérôme Garcès (France), Craig Joubert (South Africa), Nigel Owens (Wales), Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Romain Poite (France), Alain Rolland (Ireland) and Steve Walsh (Australia). Jérôme Garces appears to have been dropped from refereeing though he is still an assistant, while Chris Pollock is unavailable because of hip surgery.
The referees will also undertake assistant referee duties alongside a group of up-and-coming referees who have earned their place owing to their performances in recent Tests and at the IRB Junior World Championship in South Africa.
Rolland will make history when he takes charge of the first match of the Rugby Championship when between Australia and New Zealand at the ANZ Stadium, Sydney on 18 August .
On the same day Walsh will also make history when he referees Argentina's first match in a major annual Tier 1 competition when the Pumas face the Springboks at Newlands.
Away from The Rugby Championship, Rugby World Cup 2011 Final referee Joubert will take charge of the third Bledisloe Cup match on 20 October.
IRB Match Official Selection Committee Chairman, IRB Council Member and former Scotland and British & Irish Lions player John Jeffery said: "The IRB is committed to ensuring that the platform is in place to promote the very best refereeing standards at the elite level of the Game.
"Our continued priority is the promotion of consistency and performance and our aim is to deliver the best available panel for Rugby World Cup 2015, while at the same time applying the best-for-best principle in the selection of referees for each international window.
"The inaugural Rugby Championship is a very exciting prospect for world Rugby and this selection is based on recent performances and appointments have been made on merit. Within the process we continue to consult with coaches and teams and I would like to thank the Unions for their feedback, dedication and full support of the process."
IRB Referee Manager Paddy O'Brien said: "The goal across all aspects of international officiating is consistency and a highlight for us has been the partnership with our Unions in focusing on bringing through the next crop of referees who will be in contention for a place at Rugby World Cup 2015. This was very evident at the recent IRB Junior World Championship where the guys showed a good account of themselves."
The new selection system allows for movement in and out of the panel based on form and rewards the top performers and young referees who have graduated through the performance pathway ahead of Rugby World Cup 2015 in England.
The appointments:
18 August
Australia vs New Zealand at ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)
South Africa vs Argentina at Newlands
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garces (France), John Lacey (Ireland)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
25 August
New Zealand vs Australia at Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Alain Rolland (Ireland), Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Argentina vs South Africa at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garces (France), John Lacey (Ireland)
Television match official: Argentinian appointment
8 September
Australia vs South Africa at Patersons Stadium, Perth
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)
New Zealand vs Argentina at Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), James Leckie (Australia)
Television match official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
15 September
Australia vs Argentina at Skilled Park, Gold Coast
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)
New Zealand vs South Africa at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), James Leckie (Australia)
Television match official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
29 September
South Africa vs Australia at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Greg Garner (England)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Argentina vs New Zealand at Estadio Ciudad de La Plata, La Plata
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Pascal Gauzere (France)
Television match official: Argentinian appointment
6 October
Argentina vs Australia at Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Pascal Gauzere (France)
Television match official: Argentinian appointment
South Africa vs New at Zealand FNB Stadium, Soweto
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Greg Garner (England)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
20 October
Australia vs New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)