- Twelve referees from seven nations to preside over 12 Rugby Championship matches
- Andrea Piardi to become first Italian to referee in competition
- England’s Christophe Ridley and France’s Pierre Brousset to also debut with whistle
- Scotland’s Hollie Davidson to make Rugby Championship debut as an assistant referee
The Emirates World Rugby Match Officials have been confirmed for The Rugby Championship 2024, which takes place between 10 August and 28 September.
A total of 12 referees representing seven nations will take charge of the 12 matches across four countries that comprise The Rugby Championship.
There are 337 tests of experience across the referee team with three Rugby Championship debutants in Pierre Brousset (France), Andrea Piardi (Italy) and Christophe Ridley (England).
Four assistant referees and four Television Match Officials will make their Rugby Championship debuts with Hollie Davidson (Scotland) to become the first woman to hold the role in the competition.
Luke Pearce (England) will take charge of the opening match between Australia and South Africa at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on 10 August, with Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand) to referee the last between South Africa and Argentina at Mbombela Stadium on 28 September.
Highlights:
- Three referees will make their Rugby Championship debuts in the middle in Pierre Brousset (France), Andrea Piardi (Italy) and Christophe Ridley (England)
- Piardi will become the first Italian official to referee a Rugby Championship match
- Four assistant referees will also debut in the tournament in Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Craig Evans (Wales), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy) and Damián Schneider (Argentina)
- Davidson has two appointments as assistant referee, in the Australia v South Africa matches in Brisbane on 10 August and Perth on 17 August
- Four Television Match Officials will have their first involvement in The Rugby Championship in Eric Gauzins (France), Richard Kelly (New Zealand), Stuart Terheege and Ian Tempest (both England)
- Luke Pearce (England) is the most experienced referee on the panel with 52 tests
As the road continues to an expanded 24-team Rugby World Cup in Australia with a reimagined men’s international calendar, World Rugby has reimagined its match officials’ strategy to ensure that the people, pathways and processes are in place to increase the global reach and depth of international-quality match officials. The July test window saw that strategy in action, and The Rugby Championship is the next step in that journey with 11 debutants.
Men’s Emirates World Rugby High Performance Match Officials Selectors Chairman, Brett Robinson said: “The new strategic plan that we have in place is designed to ensure that we promote and support greater depth in our team, and this selection is the embodiment of that plan in action.
“There are 11 debutants within the selection, which is exciting. For them, and us, this is a continuation of a journey where the goal lies beyond Rugby World Cup 2027. For others, this is about arriving in Australia in peak form. For all, we are here to help them achieve their goals, and that is very exciting. Congratulations to all selected.”
World Rugby High Performance 15s Match Official Manager, Joël Jutge added: “This is the next step on our journey. In this new, four-year cycle we have the opportunity to expand our group of match officials, as demonstrated in July. This is with the long-term goal of arriving at Rugby World Cup 2027 and beyond to 2031 with a deeper talent pool.
"For The Rugby Championship, we have mirrored the Six Nations in terms of selection. Some will be experiencing the Six Nations and The Rugby Championship for the first time, and that is important to our overall goals.
“Within a new structure that features Match Officials Head Coaches and a Talent Identification Manager alongside the selectors, we have the structure and expertise to help these men and women be the best they can be. Our on-field approach has been shaped by teams and match officials in tandem, meaning that there is a good understanding of the ‘critical few’ focus areas. As we drive forward and enable the newer members of the team to gain experience, all should remember that we are implementing a longer-term strategy within a reshaped international calendar from 2026.”
