Kaplan To Referee All Blacks Game

South African referee Jonathan Kaplan

South African Jonathan Kaplan has been appointed to referee Ireland’s autumn Test opener against the All Blacks on November 12.

The IRB (International Rugby Board) today announced the match official appointments for 22 international matches to be played in November in Europe and Argentina, as well as the 2006 Six Nations next spring.

Kaplan, who turns 39 five days before the Ireland v New Zealand Test match at Lansdowne Road, is one of 16 referees on the IRB Match Officials ‘A’ panel, which also includes Irish trio Donal Courtney, Alan Lewis and Alain Rolland.

The autumn Test against New Zealand will mark Kaplan’s third visit to Dublin in three years. The Durban-born official took charge of Ireland’s 19-13 Six Nations’ defeat of England last February, whilst also whistling Eddie O’Sullivan’s side’s 2003 meeting with England. Kaplan was the man in the middle for Ireland’s 43-21 World Cup quarter-final defeat by France in Melbourne in November 2003.

England’s Chris White, who took charge of last March’s Six Nations’ title decider between Wales and Ireland in Cardiff, has been chosen to referee the Ireland v Australia Test match on November 19.

Andrew Cole of Australia will referee Ireland’s November 26 Test against Romania. The 39-year-old former dentist’s last trip to Dublin saw a Warren Gatland-coached Ireland go down 23-19 to Wales on April Fools Day 2000.

Kaplan, meanwhile, will be back in Dublin for Ireland’s Six Nations clash with Grand Slam winners Wales on February 26 next. England’s Dave Pearson, promoted to the IRB’s ‘A’ panel today, is to whistle his first ever Six Nations’ match – Ireland v Italy – at Lansdowne Road on February 4.

IRELAND’S PERMANENT TSB AUTUMN TESTS:

Saturday, November 12: Ireland v New Zealand, Lansdowne Road, 2.30pm

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa); Touch Judges: Stuart Dickinson (Australia), Malcolm Changleng (Scotland); Television Match Official: Roy Maybank (England)

Saturday, November 19: Ireland v Australia, Lansdowne Road, 2.30pm

Referee: Chris White (England); Touch Judges: Tony Spreadbury (England), Tappe Henning (South Africa); Television Match Official: Huw Watkins (Wales)

Saturday, November 26: Ireland v Romania, Lansdowne Road, 12.30pm

Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia); Touch Judges: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales), Peter Allen (Scotland); Television Match Official: Huw Watkins (Wales)

IRELAND’S 2006 SIX NATIONS TESTS:

Saturday, February 4, 2006: Ireland v Italy, Lansdowne Road, 1.30pm

Referee: Dave Pearson (England); Touch Judges: Joel Jutge (France), Nigel Owens (Wales); Television Match Official: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)

Saturday, February 11: France v Ireland, Stade de France, 1.30pm

Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand); Touch Judges: Chris White (England), Rob Dickson (Scotland); Television Match Official: Roy Maybank (England)

Sunday, February 26: Ireland v Wales, Lansdowne Road, 3.00pm

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa); Touch Judges: Chris White (England), Malcolm Changleng (Scotland); Television Match Official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

Saturday, March 11: Ireland v Scotland, Lansdowne Road, 3.30pm

Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Scotland); Touch Judges: Tony Spreadbury (England), Nigel Whitehouse (Wales); Television Match Official: Huw Watkins (Wales)

Saturday, March 18: England v Ireland, Twickenham, 5.30pm

Referee: Joel Jutge (France); Touch Judges: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales), Rob Dickson (Scotland); Television Match Official: Huw Watkins (Wales)