Wayne Barnes will move closer to a century of international refereeing appearances after being appointed to take charge of two matches during the 2021 Guinness Six Nations.
The Englishman will referee Wales v Ireland in Round 1 and France v Scotland in Round 3 to take his number of international games to 95 by the end of the Championship.
Nigel Owens became the first referee in rugby history to reach 100 Tests when he was on the whistle for France against Italy in the Autumn Nations Cup last month, but the Welshman has now retired from international officiating.
Behind Owens and Barnes, Romian Poite (France) will move to third on the all-time list of most-capped referees in his own right by taking charge of his 71st Test when Scotland play Ireland at BT Murrayfield in Round 4.
Other notable milestones emerging after the match officials for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations were announced in full include former sevens international Mike Adamson (Scotland) refereeing his first Championship game as reigning champions England welcome Italy to Twickenham in Round 2.
South African official Jaco Peyper will referee his first international match in over year owing to pandemic travel restrictions when he’s the man in the middle for England v France in Round 4, while Ireland’s Joy Neville will continue to perform Television Match Official duties, having been selected for two matches.
The 2021 Guinness Six Nations will begin on Saturday February 6 in Rome, where Matthew Carley (England) will have the honour of refereeing the first match of the Championship – Italy v France.
Chairman of the World Rugby match officials selection committee Graham Mourie said: “The 2021 Guinness Six Nations marks an important milestone for our match officials.
“While international travel is still a challenge, we have selected a good blend of experienced and talented young match officials for the Championship.”
2021 Guinness Six Nations refereeing appointments:
ROUND 1
Italy v France (Stadio Olimpico, Rome; Saturday 6 February 2021 – 2.15pm)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant Referee 1: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant Referee 2: Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Karl Dickson (England)
England v Scotland (Twickenham Stadium, London; Saturday 6 February 2021 – 4.45pm)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referee 1: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Assistant Referee 2: Mathieu Raynal (France)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ireland)
Wales v Ireland (Principality Stadium, Cardiff; Sunday 7 February 2021 – 3pm)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant Referee 1: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant Referee 2: Alex Ruiz (France)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)
ROUND 2
England v Italy (Twickenham Stadium, London; Saturday 13 February 2021 – 2.15pm)
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant Referee 1: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant Referee 2: Ben Blain (Scotland)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ireland)
Scotland v Wales (BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh; Saturday 13 February 2021 – 4.45pm)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant Referee 1: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Assistant Referee 2: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Karl Dickson (England)
Ireland v France (Aviva Stadium, Dublin; Sunday 14 February 2021 – 3pm)
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant Referee 1: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant Referee 2: Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)
ROUND 3
Italy v Ireland (Stadio Olimpico, Rome; Saturday 27 February 2021 – 2.15pm)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referee 1: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant Referee 2: Craig Evans (Wales)
TMO: Romain Poite (France)
Wales v England (Principality Stadium, Cardiff; Saturday 27 February 2021 – 4.45pm)
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referee 2: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
TMO: Alex Ruiz (France)
France v Scotland (Stade de France, Paris; Sunday 28 February 2021 – 3pm)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant Referee 2: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)
ROUND 4
Italy v Wales (Stadio Olimpico, Rome; Saturday 13 March 2021 – 2.15pm)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referee 1: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Assistant Referee 2: Tom Foley (England)
TMO: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
England v France (Twickenham Stadium, London; Saturday 13 March 2021 – 4.45pm)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant Referee 1: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant Referee 2: Craig Evans (Wales)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Scotland v Ireland (BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh; Sunday 14 March 2021 – 3pm)
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant Referee 1: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referee 2: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Alex Ruiz (France)
ROUND 5
Scotland v Italy (BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh; Saturday 20 March 2021 – 2.15pm)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant Referee 2: Craig Evans (Wales)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Ireland v England (Aviva Stadium, Dublin; Saturday 20 March 2021 – 4.45pm)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referee 1: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Assistant Referee 2: Alex Ruiz (France)
TMO: Romain Poite (France)
France v Wales (Stade de France, Paris; Saturday 20 March 2021 – 8pm)
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant Referee 2: Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Wayne Barnes (England)
