Argentine referee Juan Sylvestre is among a panel of nine officials from around the world chosen to adjudicate the 2016 World Rugby u20 Championship tournament to be held in Manchester, England. A former age-grade international for both Argentina and Italy as a player, the Rosario native is one of two referees who were also on last year’s Championship panel, the other Italy’s Elia Rizzo. Sylvestre was most recently seen in the middle of three matches during the Americas Rugby Championship.
The competition kicks off on Tuesday, June 7. A total of 12 teams will take part including defending champions New Zealand and runners-up England. Argentina are the only representatives from the Americas to qualify for the Tier 1 event.
2016 WORLD RUGBY u20 CHAMPIONSHIP REFEREES PANEL
Andrew Brace (IRFU), Thomas Charabas (FFR), Graham Cooper (ARU), Craig Evans (WRU), Cwengile Jadezweni (SARU), Craig Maxwell-Keys (RFU), Elia Rizzo (FIR), Juan Sylvestre (UAR), Paul Williams (NZRU)