Referees confirmed for British & Irish Lions series vs Australia
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Men in the middle.
World Rugby has confirmed the match official appointments for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia and a busy window of July internationals.
Twenty-seven of the 38 matches between 20 June and 2 August are test matches, with 24 referees from 11 nations set to referee these matches across World Rugby’s six regional associations.
Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Andrea Piardi (Italy), and Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) will each take charge of one Lions test in Australia, with Richard Kelly (New Zealand), Eric Gauzins (France,) and Marius Jonker (South Africa) the three Television Match Officials selected.
Piardi and Nika Amashukeli become the first Italian and Georgian, respectively, to take charge of a Lions test.
James Doleman (New Zealand) will referee the opening test of the July window with the Lions encounter with Argentina in Dublin on 20 June, with Amashukeli taking charge of the final match with the third Lions test in Sydney on 2 August.
As is normal for British and Irish Lions test matches, selection is based on experience, fo,rm and the principle of neutrality. World Rugby will also collaborate closely with all teams involved in the July test window to ensure an aligned and positive approach to the match officials/coaches’ relationship.
