Courtney, Lewis and Rolland have been named on the A panel of referees with Simon McDowell being named on the C panel. The C panel is made up of promising young referees who will be given the opportunity to officiate as touch judges and television match officials (TMO's) at full international matches.

McDowell has been selected as a touch judge for the Barbarians fixtures against Wales (May 26th) and England (May 30th) and the South Africa V Wales international (June 26th).

Donal Courtney has been chosen to referee the Argentina V Wales game in Tucuman (June 12th) with Alan Lewis to assist him as one of his touch judges. The pair will then swap roles for the return game a week later in Buenos Aires (June 19th).

Alain Rolland will take charge of the opening game of the 2004 Tri Nations in Wellington when New Zealand take on World Cup finalists Australia (July 17th) and is also named as a touch judge for the New Zealand V South Africa game in Christchurch (July 24th).

*N.B. The match officials for Ireland's two match test series against South Africa are as follows: First Test (Bloemfontein, June 12th): Referee - Tony Spreadbury (England) Touch Judges - Joel Jutge (France), Giulio De Santis (Italy)

Second Test (Cape Town, June 19th): Referee - Joel Jutge (France) Touch Judges - Tony Spreadbury (England), Nigel Owens (Wales).