Irish Referees Appointed For Rugby Championship
Irish referees Alain Rolland and George Clancy have been appointed to a number of games in the new Rugby Championship featuring Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.
Rolland, who refereed the 2007 Rugby World Cup final, will take charge of the opening game of the tournament featuring Australia and New Zealand in Sydney on August 18th.
Former Shannon and Munster player John Lacey also features in the tournament and will be on the touch line as an Assitant Referee at the historic clash between South Africa and Argentina in Newlands on the same day.
Clancy will take charge of the game between New Zealand and South Africa in Dunedin on September 15th with Rolland taking charge of games between South Africa and Australia and South Africa and New Zealand in September and October.
Appointments were made by the IRB Match Official Selection Committee following a detailed review of performances during the recent June tours and Tests.
The IRB’s commitment to promoting consistency by enabling movement in and out of the group and rewarding referees who are in form is reflected in the selection of eight match officials.
The referees are: Alain Rolland (IRFU), Steve Walsh (ARU), Nigel Owens (WRU), Romain Poite (FFR), Wayne Barnes (RFU), George Clancy (IRFU), Jaco Peyper (SARU) and Craig Joubert (SARU).
Owen Doyle, IRFU Director of Referees, welcomed the appointments: “We are delighted for Alain and George and it is a reward for all their hard work that they have again been appointed to the top level of world refereeing.
“I am also very pleased for John Lacey that he has been appointed Assistant Referee for two of the games, in particular the historic first game featuring Argentina.
“It is yet another recognition of all the emphasis that the IRFU puts on referee development and the hard work of Development Officers in all four provinces as well as the Referee Societies and Associations.”
Related Links –
The Rugby Championship 2012 Match Officials