The International Rugby Board has named the Match Officials for SANZAR’s The Rugby Championship in August and September. A new face amongst them is John Lacey of Ireland.

Lacey has become increasingly prominent this year and last Friday refereed the Test in Cordoba between Argentina and Scotland.

He is an e at -player – a wing or fullback for Munster and Ireland A. His debut for Munster was in 1995 against Transvaal. He played till 2007 when he retired and then became a referee. In 2008 he was refereeing club rugby in the Amlin Cup and the Magners League. In 2009 the IRB chose him as an international assistant referee. In 2010 he replaced injured Greg Gardner at the Junior World Championship where he refereed a semifinal. The next year he was on the international panel as a referee. Now he is going to Loftus Versfeld to referee a Test between the Springboks and the Pumas.

The last Championship matches are on 4 October 2014, the Bledisloe Cup match a fortnight later.

The Rugby Championship:

Australia vs New Zealand at ANZ Stadium, Sydney:

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Romain Poite (France), Stuart Berry (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Assessor: Clayton Thomas

South Africa vs Argentina at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria:

Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Steve Walsh (Australia), Marius Mitrea (Italy)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Assessor: Andrew Cole

New Zealand vs Australia at Eden Park, Auckland:

Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant Referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Stuart Berry (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Assessor: Lyndon Bray

Argentina vs South Africa in Argentina:

Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant Referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Marius Mitrea (Italy)
TMO: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Assessor: Clayton Thomas

Australia vs South Africa at Patersons Stadium, Perth:

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Assessor: Andrew Cole

New Zealand vs Argentina at Mclean Park, Napier:

Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)
Assistant Rreferees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)
TMO: Peter Marshall (Australia)
Assessor: Lyndon Bray

Australia vs Argentina at Skilled Park, Gold Coast:

Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Assessor: Donal Courtney

New Zealand vs South Africa at Westpac Stadium, Wellington:

Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant Referees: Pascal Gauzère (France), Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)
TMO: Peter Marshall (Australia)
Assessor: Andrew Cole

South Africa vs Australia at Newlands:

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Mathieu Raynal (France)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
Assessor: Lyndon Bray

Argentina vs New Zealand in Argentina:

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
TMO: Deon van Blommestein (South Africa)
Assessor: Clayton Thomas

South Africa vs New Zealand at Ellis Park, Johannesburg:

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant Referees: Pascal Gauzère (France), JP Doyle (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
Assessor: Donal Courtney

Argentina vs Australia in Argentina:

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
TMO: Deon van Blommestein (South Africa)
Assessor: Clayton Thomas

Bledisloe Cup:

Australia vs New Zealand at Suncorp, Brisbane:

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Assessor: Donal Courtney