Lions vs Brumbies referee was pulled from game at last minute

byRugby Rucker

Lions vs Brumbies referee has been confirmed ahead of rhea penultimate warm-up match before the three game test series kicks off

French referee Pierre Brousset will take charge of his first-ever British & Irish Lions match today, marking a major milestone in his refereeing journey.

The 36-year-old made his Six Nations debut earlier this year, overseeing England’s clash with Scotland at Twickenham — a moment that came a full year later than expected after injury scuppered his original chance.

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Brousset had been due to take the whistle for Ireland v Italy in Dublin during the 2024 Six Nations, but a last-minute injury forced him to withdraw. He was replaced by Luke Pearce.

Now, twelve months on, he’s firmly on the big stage — with a Lions fixture to his name and a Six Nations classic already under his belt.

A former lower-league scrum-half, Brousset gave up playing at the age of 19 to focus on refereeing. By 2018, he was a full-time official, and was once the youngest ref in the Top 14.

He’s already taken charge of matches in the Rugby Championship, Autumn Nations Series, and at U20 international level, but his goal was always the Six Nations.

That path began in unlikely fashion.

“I was a player until I was 20,” Brousset said a few years ago. “I had the opportunity to take the referee’s exam by chance when I was talking to someone about refereeing. I thought it might be interesting at times to know the rules properly. That’s how it all started when I was 17. I passed my first exam and then I played my first matches.

“Two years later I stopped playing to try my hand at refereeing. I was asked to make a choice so that I could go on to the highest level. When I made the decision to stop playing, it was my second senior season and I’d understood at what level I was going to stop as a player. I was in Fédérale 3 at Sporting-Club de Rieumes, occasionally in the first team.

“So I said to myself that if I wanted to aspire to a bit of top level football, why not give it a try. My initial goal was to be in the Fédérale 1 within five years. I started to immerse myself in refereeing and here I am, goal after goal.”

Now, he’s ticking off another one — as he joins an elite group of referees to officiate the Lions.

Match officials for England v Scotland at Twickenham, February 22:

Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (Ire) & Luc Ramos (Fra)
Television Match Official: Tual Trainini (Fra)
Foul Play Review Officer: Quinton Immelman (SA

Full list of referee's for the tour:

Fri 20 June 2025
The Lions vs Argentina referee (Dublin)
Referee: James Doleman (NZ)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Andrea Piardi (Ita)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)

Sat 28 Jun 2025
Western Force v B&I Lions (Perth)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
ARs: Paul Williams (NZ) & James Doleman (NZ)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
FPRO: Glenn Newman (NZ)

Wed 2 July 2025
Queensland Reds v B&I Lions (Brisbane)
Referee: James Doleman (NZ)
ARs: Paul Williams (NZ) & Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZ)
FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)

Sat 5 July 2025
NSW Waratahs v B&I Lions (Sydney)
Referee: Paul Williams (NZ)
ARs: James Doleman (NZ) & Angus Mabey (NZ)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZ)
FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)

Wed 9 July 2025
ACT Brumbies v B&I Lions (Canberra)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
ARs: Paul Williams (NZ) & Nika Amashukeli (GEO)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)

Sat 12 July 2025
Invitational AUS&NZL v B&I Lions (Adelaide)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Pierre Brousset (Fra)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
FPRO: Marius Jonker (SA)

Sat 19 July 2025 – Test Match 1

Australia v The B&I Lions (Brisbane)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Andrea Piardi (Ita)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZ)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)

Tues 22 July 2025
First Nations & Pasifika XV v B&I Lions (Melbourne)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ) & Andrea Piardi (Ita)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZ)

Sat 26 July 2025 – Test Match 2

Australia v The B&I Lions (Melbourne)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
FPRO: Marius Jonker (SA)

Sat 2 Aug 2025 – Test Match 3

Australia v The B&I Lions (Sydney)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ) & Andrea Piardi (Ita)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZ)