Rugby Championship match officials announced as Luke Pearce referees Wallabies v Springboks opener

The match officials for the 2024 Rugby Championship have been announced, with England’s Luke Pearce set to referee the opening encounter between Australia and South Africa.

Pearce is taking charge of the match at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday, August 10 as the Wallabies host the world champion Springboks.

Elsewhere on the opening weekend, Australia‘s Angus Gardner will be the man in the middle when New Zealand and Argentina do battle later that day at Sky Stadium, Wellington.

337 Tests between them

12 referees from seven countries will take charge of the 12 matches across the four competing nations that comprise the Rugby Championship.

There refereeing group have been involved in 337 Tests between them and there are three Rugby Championship debutants in Pierre Brousset (France), Andrea Piardi (Italy) and Christophe Ridley (England).

Four assistant referees and four TMOs will make their debuts in the Rugby Championship with Scotland’s Hollie Davidson set to become the first woman to hold the role in the tournament.

Men’s World Rugby high performance match officials selectors chairman Brett Robinson said: “The new strategic plan that we have in place is designed to ensure that we promote and support greater depth in our team, and this selection is the embodiment of that plan in action.

“There are 11 debutants within the selection, which is exciting. For them, and us, this is a continuation of a journey where the goal lies beyond Rugby World Cup 2027. For others, this is about arriving in Australia in peak form. For all, we are here to help them achieve their goals, and that is very exciting. Congratulations to all selected.”

World Rugby high performance 15s match official manager Joel Jutge added: “This is the next step on our journey. In this new, four-year cycle we have the opportunity to expand our group of match officials, as demonstrated in July. This is with the long-term goal of arriving at Rugby World Cup 2027 and beyond to 2031 with a deeper talent pool.

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“For the Rugby Championship, we have mirrored the Six Nations in terms of selection. Some will be experiencing the Six Nations and the Rugby Championship for the first time, and that is important to our overall goals.

“Within a new structure that features Match Officials Head Coaches and a Talent Identification Manager alongside the selectors, we have the structure and expertise to help these men and women be the best they can be.

“Our on-field approach has been shaped by teams and match officials in tandem, meaning that there is a good understanding of the ‘critical few’ focus areas. As we drive forward and enable the newer members of the team to gain experience, all should remember that we are implementing a longer-term strategy within a reshaped international calendar from 2026.”

Match officials for Rugby Championship 2024

Saturday, August 10

Australia v South Africa

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (NZR), Hollie Davidson (SRU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

New Zealand v Argentina

Venue: Sky Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry (RA), Andrea Piardi (FIR)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)

Saturday, August 17

New Zealand v Argentina

Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistant Referees: Angus Gardner (RA), Nic Berry (RA)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Australia v South Africa

Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce (RFU), Hollie Davidson (SRU)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR)

Saturday, August 31

South Africa v New Zealand

Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (RFU), Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)

Argentina v Australia

Venue: Estadio Jorge Hirschi, Buenos Aires
Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR), Pierre Brousset (FFR)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Saturday, September 7

South Africa v New Zealand

Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (IRFU), Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)

Argentina v Australia

Venue: Estadio Brigadier Estanislao Lopez, Santa Fé
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR), James Doleman (NZR)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Saturday, September 21

Australia v New Zealand

Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Damian Schneider (UAR)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (RFU)

Argentina v South Africa

Venue: Estadio Unico Madre de Cludades, Santiago del Estero
Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Matt Carley (RFU), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)

Saturday, September 28

New Zealand v Australia

Venue: Sky Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (RFU), Damian Schneider (UAR)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

South Africa v Argentina

Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant Referees: James Doleman (NZR), Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZR)

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