British & Irish Lions match officials including three Test referees for Wallabies series announced
Nika Amashukeli and Ben O'Keeffe looking on.
The match officials for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour have been announced, with Ben O’Keeffe, Andrea Piardi and Nika Amashukeli refereeing the three Tests.
O’Keeffe has been given the first Test responsibilities at Suncorp Stadium while Piardi has the MCG Stadium fixture and Amashukeli will be in charge at the Accor Stadium.
The other officials set to referee on the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour will be James Doleman (New Zealand), Paul Williams (New Zealand) and Pierre Brousset (France).
Doleman will referee the Lions game against Argentina in the 1888 Cup in Dublin on Friday, June 20, with Amashukeli (Georgia) and Piardi (Italy) his assistant referees.
Piardi and Amashukeli are poised to become the first Italian and Georgian respectively to take charge of a Lions Test when they referee the July 26 and August 2 showdowns.
Richard Kelly (New Zealand), Eric Gauzins (France) and Marius Jonker (South Africa) are the three Television Match Officials for the upcoming series against the Wallabies.
Friday, June 20
British and Irish Lions v Argentina
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Andrea Piardi (FIR)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
Saturday, June 28
Western Force v British and Irish Lions
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (NZR), James Doleman (NZR)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FPRO: Glenn Newman (NZR)
Former British and Irish Lions and England star takes on New Zealand coaching role
Wednesday, July 2
Queensland Reds v British and Irish Lions
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (NZR), Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZR)
FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
Saturday, July 5
NSW Waratahs v British and Irish Lions
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
Assistant Referees: James Doleman (NZR), Angus Mabey (NZR)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR)
FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
Wednesday, July 9
ACT Brumbies v British and Irish Lions
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (NZR), Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
Saturday, July 12
Invitational Australia and New Zealand v British and Irish Lions
Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Pierre Brousset (FFR)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
FPRO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
Saturday, July 19
Australia v British and Irish Lions
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Andrea Piardi (FIR)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
Tuesday, July 22
First Nations and Pasifika XV v British and Irish Lions
Venue: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Stadium
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR), Andrea Piardi (FIR)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZR)
Saturday, July 26
Australia v British and Irish Lions
Venue: MCG Stadium, Melbourne
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
FPRO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
Saturday, August 2
Australia v British and Irish Lions
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR), Andrea Piardi (FIR)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZR)
