2023 Rugby World Cup match officials announced

South Africa’s Jaco Peyper will referee in his third World Cup while fellow South African, Marius Jonker will also be at his third event. However, the latter only refereed at one World Cup previously, while he was a TMO at the 2019 tournament and will be the same in 2023.

The field of 26 officials will be lead by veteran Wayne Barnes (England) who has refereed 102 Test matches to date. This will be his fifth World Cup tournament as referee.

Nika Amashukeli will become the first ever Georgian to referee at a World Cup while Ireland’s Joy Neville, who refereed the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup final, will take her place as the first woman official at a Men’s World Cup as TMO.

There are a total of nine nations represented among the officials including Australia, England, France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa and Wales.

Specific match appointment for the Rugby World Cup will be made after this years Rugby Championship and World Cup warm-up games.