Referees for U19 finals

McPherson for the big one

Andy McPherson of Scotland has been appointed to the IRB's Under-19 World Championship final between Australia and New Zealand.

That is the glamour match of the day but there are other crunch matches, top and bottom, when more than just honour is at stake.

The loser between the USA and Korea will be demoted from Division B. The winner between Fiji and Tonga will be promoted to Division A next year.

The loser of the Division A match between Japan and Romania will play in Division B next year.

Australia and New Zealand play for glory. They met in the Round Robin matches when New Zealand won 22-17, which suggests that tight final is at hand.

Division B Finals

Thursday, 20 April

Korea vs USA
Referee: Eva Mafi (Tonga)
Touch judges: Federico Luis Cuesta (Argentina), Grant Bateman (Arabian Gulf)
Assessor: Brendan McCormick (Australia)

Namibia vs Chinese Taipei
Referee: Phil Smith (Canada)
Touch judges: Andy McPherson (Scotland), Takashi Harada (Japan)
Assessor: Carlos Molinari (Argentina)

Russia vs Chile
Referee: Alan Falzone (Italy)
Touch judges: Pascal Gauzere (France), Emil Pirtoc (Romania)
Assessor: Theuns Naudé (South Africa)
 
Georgia vs Uruguay
Referee: David Jones (Wales)
Touch judges: Dean Richards (England), Steve Scott (Arabian Gulf)
Assessor: Michel Lamoulie (France)

Canada vs Italy
Assessor: Andrew Lindsay (Australia)
Touch judges: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Vladim Pikhovkin (Russia)
Assessor: Bob Francis (New Zealand)

Fiji vs Tonga 
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Touch judges: Willie Roos, Phillip Bosch (both South Africa)
Assessor: Paul Bridgman (England)

Division A finals

Friday, 21 April

Japan vs Romania
Referee: Federico Luis Cuesta (Argentina)
Touch judges: Phil Smith (Canada), Eva Mafi (Tonga)
Assessor: Theuns Naudé (South Africa)

Samoa vs Scotland
Referee: Dean Richards (England)
Touch judges: Takashi Harada, Vladim Pikhovkin (Russia)
Assessor: Carlos Molinari (Argentina)

Argentina vs South Africa
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Touch judges: David Jones (Wales), Emil Pirtoc (Romania)
Assessor: Paul Bridgman (England)

Ireland vs Wales
Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Alan Falzone, Steve Scott (Arabian Gulf)
Assessor: Michel Lamoulie (France)

France vs England
Referee: Willie Roos (South Africa)
Touch judges: Andrew Lindsay (Australia), Grant Bateman (Arabian Gulf)
Assessor: Bob Francis (New Zealand)

New Zealand vs Australia 
Referee: Andy McPherson (Scotland)
Touch judges: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland), Phillip Bosch (South Africa)
Assessor: Brendan McCormick (Australia)