The Six Nations has confirmed the full officiating team for the opening round of the 2025 championship, including the Ireland vs England referee.
Find your local Greene King and settle in for the 2025 Six Nations!
O’Keeffe to Take Charge of Ireland v England Showdown
The appointment of O’Keeffe for Ireland’s Six Nations opener against England ensures that one of World Rugby’s most experienced referees will oversee what is expected to be a high-intensity battle. O’Keeffe, who officiated multiple key matches at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, will be assisted by compatriots James Doleman and Glenn Newman, with Scotland’s Hollie Davidson also running the line.
Meanwhile, Karl Dickson of England will take charge of Scotland v Italy, while Paul Williams has been assigned the Friday night curtain-raiser between France and Wales. However, the officials for that match are changed following the retirement of Chris Busby earlier this week.
With a mix of Northern and Southern Hemisphere referees in the opening round, all eyes will be on how the games are officiated as the Six Nations kicks off another thrilling campaign.
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Round 1 Officials: 31 Jan - 1 Feb
France v Wales (Friday, 31 Jan – Stade de France, Paris)
- Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
- Assistant Referees: Andrea Piardi (Italy), Jordan Way (Australia)
- TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)
- FPRO: Damon Murphy (Australia)
Paul Williams, born on April 11, 1985, in Waverley, Taranaki, New Zealand, began his refereeing journey in 2011 while still playing as a halfback at the club level.
He was appointed to the New Zealand High Performance referee squad in 2014 and became a full-time Super Rugby referee in 2016, marking a significant milestone as the first official from Taranaki to do so.
Williams has since officiated numerous international test matches and is known for his sound tactical knowledge of the game.
Scotland v Italy (Saturday, 1 Feb – Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
- Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
- Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce (England), Damian Schneider (Argentina)
- TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
- FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Dickson, born on August 2, 1982, in Salisbury, England, is a former professional rugby union player who transitioned into refereeing after retiring from playing. As a scrum-half, he played for Harlequins in the English Premiership.
Following his playing career, Dickson pursued refereeing and has quickly risen through the ranks, officiating in the English Premiership and European competitions. He is known for his player-centric approach, leveraging his on-field experience to manage games effectively.
These referees bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the Six Nations Championship, ensuring the matches are officiated at the highest standard.
Ireland vs England referee (Saturday, 1 Feb – Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
- Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
- Assistant Referees: James Doleman (New Zealand), Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
- TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
- FPRO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) – Referee for Ireland v England
Born on January 3, 1989, in Blenheim, New Zealand, Ben O'Keeffe began his refereeing career in 2008 at the age of 19. He became a professional referee for the New Zealand Rugby Union in 2013, making his domestic debut in the ITM Cup that same year.
O'Keeffe has officiated in Super Rugby since 2015 and made his international refereeing debut in 2016 during a match between Samoa and Georgia.
Beyond rugby, he is a qualified medical doctor specialising in ophthalmology and co-founded oDocs Eye Care, a social enterprise aimed at preventing blindness. As of 2023, he is recognised as New Zealand's second most-capped test match referee.
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Name the top 10 scorers in Six Nations history
Think you know your rugby history? The Six Nations Championship has seen some of the game’s most iconic players rack up incredible points over the years.
From pinpoint goal-kicking maestros to dynamic try-scoring machines, these legends have left their mark on the competition.
But how well do you know them? Can you guess who sits atop the leaderboard and who just sneaks into the top 10? Take the quiz and prove your rugby knowledge!
