Refs for IRB's Junior Champs
The International Rugby Board has announced the panel of match officials who will take charge of the 30 matches at this year’s IRB Junior World Championship 2011, which takes place in Italy from 10-26 June.
The premier international age grade tournament is a proven environment to test the skills of the very best in developing refereeing talent with New Zealand’s Chris Pollock, France’s Jérôme Garces and Carlo Damasco of Italy graduating from the 2009 tournament to be appointed assistant referees at Rugby World Cup 2011.
The class of 2011 features 12 officials who have impressed at other IRB tournaments and domestic or cross-border club competitions. In total, 10 nations are represented in England, Wales, Ireland, Argentina, Scotland, South Africa, France, New Zealand, Italy and Portugal.
The referee panel is: JP Doyle (England), Greg Garner (England), Leighton Hodges (Wales), John Lacey (Ireland), Francisco Pastrana (Argentina), Neil Paterson (Scotland), Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Mathieu Raynal (France) and Jonathon White (New Zealand). The Assistant referees are Carlo Damasco (Italy), Marius Mitrea (Italy) and João Mourinha (Portugal).
The Panel provides a blend of experience and newcomers with four officials – Doyle, Lacey, Pastrana and Peyper – returning to officiate at their second successive IRB Junior World Championship, while both Garner and Paterson will be familiar to some of the teams, having officiated in this year’s Under-20 Six Nations.
IRB Referee Manager, Paddy O'Brien said: “It has been particularly pleasing in recent years to see the likes of Keith Brown, Andrew Small, Chris Pollock and Jérôme Garces graduate from the IRB Junior World Championship to win selection for the IRB High Performance Match Official Panel.
“Officiating in international tournaments provides exposure to a best-practice environment that furthers the development of our most talented young referees and provides us with an opportunity to identify and nurture the next group of Test officials.”
The selection of two assistant referees from Italy underlines the commitment of the IRB, working with its member unions, to increase the talent pool across all unions through a system of collaborative programmes to identify and develop the best officiating talent.
A feature of the IRB Junior World Championship 2011 Legacy Programme will be the hosting of a special match official's workshop where Italian match officials and referee managers will benefit from access to training and education programmes.
From the IRB
Junior World Championship Fixtures
The International Rugby Board has announced the pools and fixtures for the first three rounds Junior World Championship to be played in Northern Italy in June this year. South Africa and England, the Under-20 Six Nations champions, are in the same pool and meet on Day 3. Australia may find France a handful while New Zealand seem well set to win their pool.
Pools
Pool A: New Zealand, Argentina, Wales, Italy
Pool B: Australia, France, Fiji, Tonga
Pool C: South Africa, England, Ireland, Scotland
Fixtures
Match Day 1, Friday, 10 June 2011
England vs Ireland at Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
Italy vs New Zealand at Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
Argentina vs Wales at Stadio Plebiscito, Padua
South Africa vs Scotland at Stadio Plebiscito, Padua
Australia vs Tonga at Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo
France vs Fiji at Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo
Match Day 2, Tuesday, 14, June 2011
England vs Scotland at Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
Ireland vs South Africa at Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
Australia vs Fiji at Stadio Plebiscito, Padua
France vs Tonga at Stadio Plebiscito, Padua
New Zealand vs Wales at Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo
Italy vs Argentina at Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo
Match Day 3, Saturday, 18 June 2011
Italy vs Wales at Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
Australia vs France at Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
Argentina vs New Zealand at Stadio Plebiscito, Padua
England vs South Africa at Stadio Plebiscito, Padua
Fiji vs Tonga at Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo
Ireland vs Scotland at Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo
At the end of the pool phase the teams will be seeded based on the position in which they finished in their respective pools.
1st seed: Pool winner with most competition points
2nd seed: Pool winner with 2nd most competition points
3rd seed: Pool winner with 3rd most competition points
4th seed: Pool second place with most competition points
5th seed: Pool second place with 2nd most competition points
6th seed: Pool second place with 3rd most competition points
7th seed: Pool third place with most competition points
8th seed: Pool third place with 2nd most competition points
9th seed: Pool third place with 3rd most competition points
10th seed: Pool fourth place with most competition points
11th seed: Pool fourth place with 2nd most competition points
12th seed: Pool fourth place with 3rd most competition points
Based on the seedings the allocation of 4th round matches on Wednesday 22 June which will include semifinals in which 2 plays 3 and 1 plays 4. The Final Day’s matches are on Sunday, 26 June 2011. This process will produce a ranking of all 12 teams.