England vs Scotland referee pulled out of Six Nations debut due to injury

Wednesday, 19 February 2025 at 09:30

byRugby Rucker

, examines the composition of various national teams, shedding light on the number of foreign-born players and how they qualify for their respective squads.

On Saturday, February 22nd, French referee Pierre Brousset will take charge of his first-ever Guinness Men's Six Nations match — and it's no small occasion.

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The 35-year-old is stepping straight into the spotlight, overseeing the Calcutta Cup showdown between England and Scotland at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

Brousset's no stranger to the international stage, though. He impressed during the 2023 Rugby Championship and the Autumn Nations Series, building a solid reputation. But officiating in the Six Nations? That's the one box left to tick.

So Close, Yet So Sidelines

Brousset nearly had his Six Nations debut in 2024, only for injury to force him out just before Ireland v Italy. Luke Pearce stepped in as his replacement, leaving Brousset to watch from the sidelines.

This time, he's ready. And he's not going it alone. Fellow Frenchman Luc Ramos will run the touchline alongside Andrew Brace, with Tual Trainini on TMO duties.

Reflecting on his journey, Brousset said last year:

"If I've reached this level, it's because of my convictions and my personality. There's no such thing as the perfect match, but you can always evolve."

From Scrum-Half to Rule Boss

Brousset's path to the Six Nations wasn't exactly planned. A former Fédérale 3 player with Sporting-Club de Rieumes, he only picked up refereeing after a casual chat when he was 17. Two years later, he ditched playing entirely to focus on officiating.

"I wanted to aim for Fédérale 1 within five years," he recalled. "I started to immerse myself in refereeing — and here I am, goal after goal."

By 2018, refereeing became his full-time career. He even had a stint on the World Rugby Sevens circuit in 2016-17, before quickly rising through the ranks of the Top 14.

Fireplace Dreams to Twickenham Reality

Brousset's love for the Six Nations started young. Growing up in southwestern France, he remembers watching the tournament on cold winter days, huddled around the fireplace with his family.

"Great rugby matches, marked by history, in magnificent stadiums — it's a privilege to be part of it," he reflected.

Now, in 2025, those childhood dreams become reality as he steps onto one of rugby's grandest stages. And with the Calcutta Cup in his hands, expect Brousset to make his mark on Six Nations history.

2025 Six Nations referees:

Round 3: 22-23 Feb

Wales v Ireland
Referee: Christophe Ridley (Eng)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)

England v Scotland
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
ARs: Andrew Brace (Ire) & Luc Ramos (Fra)
TMO: Tual Trainini (Fra)
FPRO: Quinton Immelman (SA)

Italy v France
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
ARs: ~~Chris Busby (Ire)~~ Craig Evans (Wal) & Eoghan Cross (Ire)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)
FPRO: Mike Adamson (Sco)

Round 4: 8-9 March

Ireland v France
Referee: Angus Gardner (Aus)
ARs: Matthew Carley (Eng) & Christophe Ridley (Eng)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
FPRO: Andrew Jackson (Eng)

Scotland v Wales
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
ARs: Nic Berry (Aus) & Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
FPRO: Tual Trainini (Fra)

England v Italy
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ire)
ARs: Craig Evans (Wal) & Luc Ramos (Fra)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
FPRO: Mike Adamson (Sco)

Round 5: 15 March

Italy v Ireland
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
ARs: Angus Gardner (Aus) & Morné Ferreira (SA)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (Eng)
FPRO: Tual Trainini (Fra)

Wales v England
Referee: Nic Berry (Aus)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Hollie Davidson (Sco)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)

France v Scotland
Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng)
ARs: Karl Dickson (Eng) & Eoghan Cross (Ire)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
FPRO: Ian Tempest (Eng)

UPDATED: Foreign-born players in the 2025 Six Nations

The following breakdown, based on data compiled by Americas Rugby News

This international blend underlines rugby’s global nature, with some nations leaning on overseas-born talent more than others. Ahead of round two, we've broken down the squads – and Scotland lead the way by a mile when it comes to foreign-born players.