All Blacks v Springboks: English referee handed huge Eden Park showdown as Rugby Championship officials named
All Blacks haka against the Springboks in 2024 Rugby Championship and referee Karl Dickson alongside Nika Amashukeli.
The match officials for the upcoming Rugby Championship have been announced, including for the much-anticipated Eden Park clash between the All Blacks and Springboks.
New Zealand are putting their 31-year unbeaten record on the line on September 6 as they take on the back-to-back world champions at the Auckland venue.
They are currently number one and two in the World Rugby rankings, with the Boks residing at the summit and their rivals just behind them in the standings.
Referee selected for All Blacks v Springboks
Englishman Karl Dickson has been given the big responsibility to referee that match and he will be assisted by two other experienced officials in Georgian Nika Amashukeli and Australian Jordan Way.
“Our collective focus continues to be on delivering the best match officials for the world’s best tournaments,” World Rugby referee manager Joel Jutge said.
“The Rugby Championship 2025 will include some of our most experienced match officials, while at the same time allowing others to gain experience in such a high-level tournament.
“Unashamedly our goal is ensuring we are fully prepared for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia with the match officials’ team performing to its fullest potential, facilitating an exciting game for players and fans.
“The Rugby Championship represents a major milestone on the journey to Australia for match officials and anticipation is again high for the 2025 tournament as the top talent from Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa do battle for southern hemisphere supremacy.”
The tournament kicks off on August 16 as South Africa and Australia clash in Johannesburg, and New Zealander Ben O’Keeffe will be in charge of that encounter.
It is followed by the Argentina v New Zealand contest in Cordoba, with Frenchman Pierre Brousset the person tasked with running the rule there.
The Rugby Championship concludes on October 4, with Matthew Carley the man in the middle for Australia v New Zealand and Andrea Piardi refereeing the finale between Argentina and South Africa, which will be played at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
It is the second match Piardi will take charge of after the Eden Park game between the All Blacks and Wallabies, a year after becoming the first Italian to referee a Rugby Championship clash.
Rugby Championship match officials
Saturday, August 16
South Africa v Australia
Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant referees: James Doleman (NZR), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Tual Trainini (FFR)
FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZR)
Argentina v New Zealand
Venue: Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Cordoba
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Assistant referees: Nic Berry (RA), Morné Ferreira (SARU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FPRO: Damon Murphy (RA)
Saturday, August 23
South Africa v Australia
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Richard Kelly (RA)
FPRO: Tual Trainini (FFR)
Argentina v New Zealand
Venue: Estado Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires
Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
Assistant referees: Pierre Brousset (FFR), Morné Ferreira (SARU)
TMO: Damon Murphy (RA)
FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
Saturday, September 6
Australia v Argentina
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley (RFU), Sam Grove-White (SRU)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
FPRO: Glenn Newman (NZR)
New Zealand v South Africa
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
Saturday, September 13
Australia v Argentina
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Christophe Ridley (FFR)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (NZR), Sam Grove-White (SRU)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZR)
FPRO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
New Zealand v South Africa
Venue: Sky Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (RA), Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
FPRO: Brett Cronan (RA)
Saturday, September 27
New Zealand v Australia
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (RFU), Morné Ferreira (SARU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
FPRO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
South Africa v Argentina
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
Assistant referees: Pierre Brousset (FFR), Angus Mabey (NZR)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)
FPRO: Damon Murphy (RA)
Saturday, October 4
Australia v New Zealand
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant referees: Pierre Brousset (FFR), Morné Ferreira (SARU)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
FPRO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
Argentina v South Africa
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)