Welsh record-breaking referee Nigel Owens has been handed two key matches in the upcoming Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup competitions.
The 44-year-old Welsh official overtook South African Jonathan Kaplan to become the most experienced international referee of all time when he took charge of the game between Fiji and Tonga in Suva last month.
Owens is one of nine referees named to officiate in this year’s Rugby Championship.
Following his first meeting as World Rugby Match Officials Selection Committee Chairman, Anthony Buchanan said: “With less than a year gone since Rugby World Cup, now is the time to develop fresh talent as we start to build towards RWC 2019 in Japan.