Experienced referees Nigel Owens and Wayne Barnes headline the list of officials set to take charge at the 2020 Guinness Six Nations.
Welshman Owens will referee his 98th Test match when he officiates the Round 1 clash between France and England at the Stade de France, while Barnes 90th Test will come at the same venue for the final game of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations – Ireland’s clash against Les Bleus.
Englishman Barnes had initially intended to retire following the recent Rugby World Cup in Japan but will be a key cog for the 2020 Championship as he will also be an assistant for France’s trips to Wales in Round 3 and Scotland in Round 4.
Luke Pearce (England) has the honour of refereeing the first match of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations – Wales v Italy in Cardiff – while Andrew Brace (Ireland) makes his Championship refereeing debut in Round 2 for France v Italy.
The retirement of Rugby World Cup 2019 final referee Jérôme Garcès means he will be conspicuous by his absence but fellow Frenchmen Mathieu Raynal, Romain Poite and Pascal Gauzere will all be on the whistle for at least one match.
In fact, Gauzere is one of only two officials who will be in the middle for multiple games during the Championship – Round 2’s Calcutta Cup clash between Scotland and England at Murrayfield and the Super Saturday contest between Italy and England – with New Zealand’s Ben O’Keeffe the other man doubling up.
And World Rugby 15s high performance match official manager Alain Rolland is convinced a strong officiating crew are in place
“There is a huge amount of excitement and motivation across the team as we head into the first Six Nations of the new decade,” he said.
“We have a strong team ethic, a superb group of match officials and we are excited about the young talent that is coming through the ranks from the U20 Championship and elite club environment.
“Our goal is always clear, consistent and accurate decision-making and while there is no change in emphasis, we will continue to build on what we achieved at Rugby World Cup 2019.
“I would also like to congratulate Andrew Brace on his first Six Nations refereeing appointment.”
Click here for the full list of Guinness Six Nations 2020 fixtures
Wales v Italy (Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales; 1 Feb 2020; 2.15pm)
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant 1: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant 2: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
TMO: James Leckie (Australia)
Ireland v Scotland (Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland; 1 Feb 2020; 4.45pm)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant 1: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Assistant 2: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
France v England (Stade de France, Paris, France; 2 Feb 2020; 4.00pm)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant 1: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant 2: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
Ireland v Wales (Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland; 8 Feb 2020; 2.15pm)
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant 1: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant 2: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Scotland v England (Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland; 8 Feb 2020; 4.45pm)
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Assistant 1: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant 2: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO: James Leckie (Australia)
France v Italy (Stade de France, Paris, France; 9 Feb 2020; 4.00pm)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant 1: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant 2: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
Italy v Scotland (Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy; 22 Feb 2020; 3.15pm)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant 1: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant 2: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
Wales v France (Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales; 22 Feb 2020; 4.45pm)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant 1: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant 2: Karl Dickson (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
England v Ireland (Twickenham Stadium, England; 23 Feb 2020; 3.00pm)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant 1: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant 2: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Ireland v Italy (Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland; 7 Mar 2020; 2.15pm)
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant 1: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant 2: Karl Dickson (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
England v Wales (Twickenham Stadium, England; 7 Mar 2020; 4.45pm)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant 1: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant 2: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Scotland v France (Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland; 8 Mar 2020; 3.00pm)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant 1: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant 2: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
Wales v Scotland (Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales; 14 Mar 2020; 2.15pm)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant 1: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant 2: Karl Dickson (England)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
Italy v England (Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy; 14 Mar 2020; 5.45pm)
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Assistant 1: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant 2: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
France v Ireland (Stade de France, Paris, France; 14 Mar 2020; 9.00pm)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant 1: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant 2: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
