Match official changes for England this Summer as Irish referee suffers injury

Scotland’s Sam Grove-White will now take charge of the match at Audi Field on 19 July, stepping into the middle for what is expected to be a high-tempo encounter, as England continue their build-up towards the upcoming Autumn Nations Series.

Grove-White will be assisted by Morné Ferreira of South Africa and Robin Kaluzniak of Canada, while Italy’s Matteo Liperini will serve as TMO.

The fixture marks an important test for Steve Borthwick’s England side, who will be keen to make a statement on American soil ahead of a packed international calendar. Borthwick will be blooding a new generation of England talents on this tour, with a significant proportion of his squad away in Australia with the British & Irish Lions. The USA, meanwhile, will be looking to capitalise on home advantage and make a mark against a Tier One nation.

The appointment reshuffle was part of a wider update from World Rugby affecting four matches during the July international window, though the USA v England clash is the only one of those to see a change of referee. Grove-White will also officiate England XV’s clash with France XV on 21 June as an Assistant Referee, and the USA v Belgium match on 5 July.

Grove-White will work alongside Scottish referee Hollie Davidson for the uncapped installment of 'le Crunch'. Davidson made history in the latest EPCR Challenge Cup Final, as she became the first female referee to call the action upon a major European stage. Davidson was praised by Bath head coach Johann van Graan for her officiating, in what was a bruising encounter between the blue, black and whites and Lyon OU.

This non-cap fixture will act as a curtain-raiser for the summer, giving fringe England players a chance to stake their claim in front of the Twickenham crowd.

5 July – USA v Belgium
American Legion Memorial Stadium, Charlotte, NC

A crucial warm-up for the Eagles, this match sees Belgium travelling to the States for a rare encounter that could offer key insights into USA's development trajectory.

12 July – USA v Spain
American Legion Memorial Stadium, Charlotte, NC

A rematch of sorts after several previous competitive meetings, this mid-July fixture will be a key test of consistency for the USA before they face England.

This headline match will be England's third Test of their official Summer tour, after back-to-back battles with Los Pumas down in Argentina. The Eagles will be aiming to make a statement under the lights in DC, hoping for a memorable result against a Six Nations heavyweight.