Match officials named for RWC Semi Finals

World Rugby have announced that Nigel Owens and Jérôme Garcès will take charge of this weekend’s Rugby World Cup Semi Finals. Owens will be the man in the middle for Saturday’s match between England and New Zealand, while Garces will oversee Sunday’s game featuring Wales and South Africa.

The selections appear to indicate that Wayne Barnes has been earmarked for the Final, though he will only do so if New Zealand are victorious over England. Should England win, the decision appears to be Owens or Garcès. Owens was the referee for the 2015 Final between New Zealand and Australia.

Jaco Peyper was notably overlooked for any role this coming weekend. The top-ranked official from South Africa was admonished for participating in a controversial photo with Welsh fans that made reference to the red card handed out to French lock Sébastien Vaha’ahamina in Sunday’s Quarter Final.

ENGLAND vs NEW ZEALAND
Saturday, October 26
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistants: Romain Poite (France) & Pascal Gaüzère (France)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

WALES vs SOUTH AFRICA
Sunday, October 27
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistants: Wayne Barnes (England) & Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)