Six Nations 2024 match officials announced as Karl Dickson referees France v Ireland opener

Adam Kyriacou
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Karl Dickson refereeing a World Cup game.

Karl Dickson refereeing a World Cup game.

The match officials for the 2024 men’s Six Nations have been announced today, with England’s Karl Dickson set to referee the opening game between France and Ireland.

Dickson is in the middle for the match at Orange Velodrome in Marseille as reigning champions Ireland open their title defence with a difficult fixture against Les Bleus.

Elsewhere on the opening weekend, New Zealand’s Paul Williams will referee Italy v England before fellow Kiwi, Ben O’Keeffe, takes charge of Wales v Scotland in Cardiff.

Eight nations involved

15 referees from eight nations will preside over the tournament next year, with Andrea Piardi set to become first Italian to referee a Six Nations fixture in an historic moment.

England’s Christophe Ridley and France‘s Pierre Brousset also debut with the whistle while Scotland’s Hollie Davidson gets a Championship debut as an assistant referee.

There are 458 Tests of experience in the middle across a referee team that blends Rugby World Cup experience with new faces as Ireland look to defend their title.

World Rugby director of rugby Phil Davies said: “As we enter a new four-year Rugby World Cup cycle and ultimately the beginning of a new international calendar that will advance Test rugby, we are focused on collaborating with unions and competitions to create greater opportunities to identify and develop the next generation of match officiating talent.

“This selection reflects that commitment, but while also crucially retaining the experience that underpins the DNA of modern refereeing. We are also committed to collaborating more closely with international coaches and players to ensure that we shape the future of officiating together.”

World Rugby high performance 15s match officials manager Joël Jutge added: “The 2024 Men’s Guinness Six Nations marks the start of a new Rugby World Cup cycle and we look forward to working with the group selected. Congratulations to the debutants.”

Match officials for Six Nations 2024

Friday, February 2

France v Ireland

Venue: Orange Velodrome, Marseille
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (RFU), Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Saturday, February 3

Italy v England

Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry (RA), Pierre Brousset (FFR)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)

Wales v Scotland

Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant Referees: James Doleman (NZR), Angus Mabey (NZR)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZR)

Saturday, February 10

Scotland v France

Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)

England v Wales

Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR), Hollie Davidson (SRU)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZR)

Sunday, February 11

Ireland v Italy

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Mathieu Raynal (FFR), Luc Ramos (FFR)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

Saturday, February 24

Ireland v Wales

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (RFU), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

Scotland v England

Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Chris Busby (IRFU), Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Sunday, February 25

France v Italy

Venue: Decathlon Arena, Lille
Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (RFU), Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)

Saturday, March 9

Italy v Scotland

Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (RFU), Adam Leal (RFU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)

England v Ireland

Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
Assistant Referees: Andrea Piardi (FIR), Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Sunday, March 10

Wales v France

Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (IRFU), Damian Schneider (UAR)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)

Saturday, March 16

Wales v Italy

Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Chris Busby (IRFU), Morné Ferreira (SARU)
TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU)

Ireland v Scotland

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (RFU), Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

France v England

Venue: Groupama Stadium, Lyon
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Damian Schneider (UAR)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

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