The International Rugby Board has announced the Match Official appointments for the 2011 Six Nations Championship, which will be played between February 4 and March 19.
The appointments were made by the IRB Match Official Selection Committee at its meeting in Dublin this week following a comprehensive review of international referee, assistant referee and television match official performances during the recent November Tests.
With Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand less than 10 months away the appointments will give the world’s top referees a further chance to cement their place in the IRB Panel for Rugby’s global showcase tournament.
Ireland’s Alain Rolland, who refereed the Rugby World Cup 2007 final, will take charge of the opening match of the Championship on February 4 when Wales face England in the only Friday night match.
The selection also sees Steve Walsh take charge of his first Six Nations match since 2008 when he referees England versus France at Twickenham on February 26. In total there are 10 Referees selected for the 15 Championship matches.
“We are beginning the countdown towards Rugby World Cup 2011 and a streamlined panel of 10 top referees who will officiate at the tournament,” said IRB Match Official Selection Committee Chairman and IRB Council Member David Pickering.
“Collectively we are focused on further promoting consistency across all areas of officiating to ensure that those selected for Rugby World Cup 2011 are the best and that they will be in peak physical and performance condition for what promises to be a special tournament,” added Pickering.
Six Nations match officials
Week 1
04 Feb 19:45 Wales v England Millennium Stadium, Cardiff A.Rolland
05 Feb 14:30 Italy v Ireland Stadio Flaminio, Rome R.Poite J.Garces
05 Feb 17:00 France v Scotland Stade de France, Paris W.Barnes
Week 2
12 Feb 14:30 England v Italy Twickenham, London C.Joubert
12 Feb 17:00 Scotland v Wales Murrayfield, Edinburgh G.Clancy
13 Feb 15:00 Ireland v France Aviva Stadium, Dublin D.Pearson
Week 3
26 Feb 14:30 Italy v Wales Stadio Flaminio, Rome W.Barnes
26 Feb 17:00 England v France Twickenham, London S.Walsh
27 Feb 15:00 Scotland v Ireland Murrayfield, Edinburgh N.Owens
Week 4
12 Mar 14:30 Italy v France Stadio Flaminio, Rome B.Lawrence
12 Mar 17:00 Wales v Ireland Millennium Stadium, Cardiff J.Kaplan
13 Mar 15:00 England v Scotland Twickenham, London R.Poite
Week 5
19 Mar 14:30 Scotland v Italy Murrayfield, Edinburgh A.Rolland
19 Mar 17:00 Ireland v England Aviva Stadium, Dublin B.Lawrence
19 Mar 19:45 France v Wales Stade de France, Paris C.Joubert