Officials for Super Saturday, including France vs England referee

Thursday, 17 March 2022 at 16:35

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byRugby Rucker

Referee appointments for round three of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations, including the France vs England referee in the Grand Slam decider in Paris.

Saturday, 19 March, 2022

Wales vs Italy referee: Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Tual Trainini (FFR)
TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU)

Hometown: I live in Limerick, I’ve been here for the last 10 years, but my family are based in Wales in Cardiff. I was only meant to be here for a year, but one year led to another and 10 years later they can’t get rid of me!

First memory of Rugby: I played a bit of rugby at primary school, but was quite late when I started playing at a club, probably about 13 years old. My first, and funniest, memory when I was in primary school was one of my first games, and we needed to score to win the game. The ball came to me on the wing, it was probably my only touch of the game, before sprinting down the wing for the winning score. I dived over the line, hand in the air celebrating only to realise it was the 22, not the try line. Hilarious now looking back, but at the time I don’t think my mates were laughing!

No of years refereeing: I was 24 when I finished playing, I just couldn’t continue playing at that level in the all-Ireland League, and referee at the same time, so I turned my focus fully to refereeing at that point. I had to make that decision then because I was coaching with Munster rugby as well so I just couldn’t do it all. Johnny Lacey was the one who approached me and saw potential in me I guess but deep down was probably sick of me giving out about referees every Monday morning so told me to put the whistle where my mouth was…. I just took each game as it came and 8 years later here I am.

Full profile

Referee, Andrew Brace consults with the TMO after a tackle in the air by Siya Kolisi, Captain of South Africa on Joe Marchant of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on 20 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

Ireland vs Scotland referee: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Christophe Ridley (FFR)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (RFU)

The referee, born in 1978, has been a professional referee since 2005 when he was just 26 years old. Barnes became the RFU’s youngest ever full time elite referee at the time. Barnes’ selection for the 2011, 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups adds to his 2007 appointment, eventually culminating in winning the 2019 Rugby Referee of the Year. To coincide with his award, Barnes was expected to officiate the 2019 Rugby World Cup final. However, with England reaching the final to face South Africa, Barnes had to settle for refereeing the bronze medal match.

Referee, Wayne Barnes during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Bristol Bears and Bath Rugby at Ashton Gate on 29 Jan. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK

France vs England referee: Stade de France, Paris

Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU)
Assistant Referee 1: Mike Adamson (SRU)
Assistant Referee 2: Frank Murphy (IRFU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Referee, Jaco Peyper watches the TMO for a potential shoulder charge during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Australia at Twickenham on 13 November 2021. Photo: Micah Crook/PPAUK