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There will be an Argentine referee blowing the whistle in the Pro D2 this week. Damián Schneider will be in charge of the French second division clash between Vannes and Béziers. The match will take place at Le Stade de La Rabine in Vannes.
Vannes will have home advantage against Béziers. The home side are tied for second in the Pro D2 after 20 rounds of the 2023-2024 season. Béziers are the current leaders. The club hold a two point advantage over Provence and Vannes.
The home side are captained by former Pumas flanker Francisco Gorrissen. Argentina XV back-rower Juan Bautista Pedemonte is also at the club as is Uruguayan captain Andrés Vilaseca.
Schneider is a leading official from Argentina and the Americas as a whole. The experienced official has officiated many professional matches in the Americas as well as test matches and Rugby World Cup Qualifiers. He has, however, not been appointed a Rugby World Cup match nor a Tier 1 vs Tier 1 match.
During Bill Beaumont’s years in charge of World Rugby no Americas referee has officiated a fixture between two Tier 1 matches. No Americas official has referred at the past five Rugby World Cups.
The last time the Americas had an official referee a match at a Rugby World Cup was in 2003. Argentina’s Pablo Deluca was the “only referee from outside the major eight nations.” at the tournament.
