One Americas Referee Appointed For RWC 2019

World Rugby has announced a panel of 23 referees for RWC 2019. Of them one is from the Americas though he is to act as an assistant official, meaning he will be a sideline referee rather than take control of a match from the middle.

The leading official from the Americas is Federico Anselmi. The Argentine referee is one of seven officials named as assistant referees by World Rugby. He joins Matthew Carley (England), Karl Dickson (England), Andrew Brace (Ireland), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand), Shuhei Kubo (Japan) and Alex Ruiz (France). Carley has also been named reserve referee meaning that he will referee a match should the necessity arise.

The men selected by World Rugby to referee the RWC matches all come from Tier 1 countries which are founding members of the entity formerly known as the International Rugby Board (IRB). They are Wayne Barnes (England), Luke Pearce (England), Jérôme Garcès (France), Romain Poite (France), Pascal Gaüzère (France), Mathieu Raynal (France), Nigel Owens (Wales), Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Paul Williams (New Zealand), Nic Berry (Australia) and Angus Gardner (Australia).

Also chosen by World Rugby are four TMO’s for the tournament. They are also all from founding union members which sees Argentina’s Anslemi and Japan’s Shuhei Kubo as the only exceptions among the 21 officials selected for RWC 2019.

The last time an official from a country other than Australia, England, France, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, or Wales refereed a RWC match was in 2003. Argentina’s Pablo Deluca joined referees from Australia (4), England (2), France (1), Ireland (2), New Zealand (3), South Africa (2), and Wales (1).

In all there will be 48 matches at the first RWC played in Asia. Included will be 40 pool matches and 8 knock-out games. RWC 2019 will be played from September 20 to November 02 with all matches being played in Japan.

REFEREES
Wayne Barnes (England), Luke Pearce (England), Jérôme Garcès (France), Romain Poite (France), Pascal Gaüzère (France), Mathieu Raynal (France), Nigel Owens (Wales), Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Paul Williams (New Zealand), Nic Berry (Australia) and Angus Gardner (Australia).

ASSISTANT REFEREES
Matthew Carley (England, reserve referee), Karl Dickson (England), Andrew Brace (Ireland), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand), Federico Anselmi (Argentina), Shuhei Kubo (Japan) and Alex Ruiz (France).

TMOs
Graham Hughes (England), Rowan Kitt (England), Ben Skeen (New Zealand), Marius Jonker (South Africa).