The leading rugby official from the Americas, Federico Anselmi will act as assistant referee for six pool matches at Rugby World Cup 2015 it as revealed today. The Argentine has been chosen to be a part of the World Cup after performing well on the Rugby Sevens world circuit and having recently refereed more frequently at international and professional levels.
Anselmo told the Unión Argentina de Rugby (UAR) that “I knew that on July 01 the match officials would be designated but I could not imagine which matches I would be assigned. I am immensely happy.”
His six allocated pool fixtures will include matches featuring possible champions South Africa, (vs Japan. Referee: Jerome Garcés), France (vs Romania. Referee: Jaco Peyper) and England (vs Uruguay. Referee: Chris Pollock) . In addition he is to assist Irishman George Clancy for USA v Samoa and New Zealander Glen Jackson for Namibia v Tonga and Japan v USA.
Aged 32 the World Cup will be his second after he was an official at the Rugby Sevens World Cup in Moscow, Russia two years ago. He could be back at the peak of Rugby Sevens again in 2016 for the Olympic Games. He commented: “I don’t have it in my mind. I have to be mentally prepared for a path which could include the Olympic Games in Rio and also the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. I am remaining very calm about such possible destinations, I am in no rush”.