Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
World Rugby has confirmed the match officials for the Rugby World Cup 2023 pool matches. The Americas will have no referee, assistant referee or TMO at Rugby World Cup 2023. The last match officiated by an Americas referee was at Rugby World Cup 2003 in Australia.
Rugby World Cup 2023 will see two South American teams facing-off for the first time in tournament history. World Rugby has not appointed a Spanish-Speaking referee for that match. This follows the recent test match between Uruguay and Chile which was refereed entirely in English by Luke Pearce.
The referees appointed are from Australia (2), England (4), France (1), Georgia (1), Ireland (1), New Zealand (2) and South Africa (1). Jaco Peyper (South Africa) has been appointed the opening match of the tournament between France and New Zealand on Friday, September 08.
Argentina will be the first Americas competitor to play at Rugby World Cup 2023. Los Pumas open their campaign against England in Marseilles on Saturday, September 09. Mathieu Raynal (France) will be the referee.
Chile make their Rugby World Cup debut on Sunday, September 10. Los Cóndores will make their debut against Japan in Toulouse. The match will be refereed by Nic Berry (Australia).
Uruguay will be the third, and final, Americas competitor to begin their Rugby World Cup campaign. Los Teros‘ first opponent will be France. Played in Lille, the match will be refereed by Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand).O’Keeffe has made efforts in the past to use French while officiating but never Spanish.
Uruguay’s matches will be officiated by referees from Australia, England France, and New Zealand. Two of Argentina’s four matches will be officiated by referees from New Zealand. The other two will be officiated by referees from Australia and France. Chile’s matches by two referees from New Zealand and one each from Australia and South Africa.
URUGUAY FIXTURES
September 14 
vs 
(Lille, FR)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: James Doleman (New Zealand); Paul Williams (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
September 20 
vs (Nice, FR)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland); Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)
September 27 
vs (Lyon, FR)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry (Australia); Chris Busby (Ireland)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
October 05 
vs (Lyon, FR)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (England); Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
ARGENTINA FIXTURES
September 09 
vs 
(Marseille, FR)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand); Pierre Brousset (France)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
September 22 vs 
(St. Étienne, FR)
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia); Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)
September 30 vs 
(Nantes, FR)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Pierre Brousset (France); Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
October 08 vs 
(Nantes, FR)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: James Doleman (New Zealand); Paul Williams (New Zealand)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
CHILE FIXTURES
September 10 vs (Toulouse, FR)
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (England); Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)
September 16 vs (Bordeaux, FR)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: James Doleman (New Zealand); Angus Gardner (Australia)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)
September 23 vs (Lille FR)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Pierre Brousset (France); Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
September 30 vs (Nantes, FR)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Pierre Brousset (France); Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023 – REFEREES
Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Wayne Barnes (England), Nic Berry (Australia), Andrew Brace (Ireland), Matthew Carley (England), Karl Dickson (England), Angus Gardner (Australia), Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Luke Pearce (England), Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Mathieu Raynal (France), Paul Williams (New Zealand).
RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023 – ASSISTANT REFEREES
Chris Busby (Ireland), Pierre Brousset (France), James Doleman (New Zealand), Craig Evans (Wales), Andrea Piardi (Italy), Christophe Ridley (England), Jordan Way (Australia).
RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023 – TMO
Brett Cronan (Australia), Tom Foley (England), Marius Jonker (South Africa), Brian MacNeice (Ireland), Joy Neville (Ireland), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand), Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
