World Rugby confirm referee change for a Six Nations match

Jared Wright
Referee Jaco Peyper during the Rugby World Cup 2023, Pool D match at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille, France.

Referee Jaco Peyper during the Rugby World Cup 2023, Pool D match at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille, France.

World Rugby have announced a match official change for one of the 2024 Six Nations matches.

South Africa’s Jaco Peyper will no longer take charge of the clash between Italy and Scotland due to injury.

Peyper sidelined

Peyper was set to officiate the round three encounter in Rome on Saturday, 9 March. However, he has not recovered from the injury he sustained at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The South African was forced off the pitch during the World Cup quarter-final between Wales and Argentina, with his assistant Karl Dickson taking his place for the remainder of the match.

He subsequently missed the remainder of the tournament but, despite not officiating a game since, he was backed to return in time for the Six Nations.

However, World Rugby confirmed on Thursday that Peyper has been replaced by Australian Angus Gardner.

“World Rugby has confirmed a change to the match official appointments for the Guinness Men’s Six Nations 2024 match between Italy and Scotland on 9 March,” the statement read.

“Jaco Peyper (South Africa) has been ruled out of the Six Nations with an Achilles injury. Angus Gardner (Australia) will replace Peyper as referee at the Stadio Olimpico.”

Updated referee appointments for the 2024 Six Nations

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)

READ MORE: ‘Bare minimum’ – Nick Easter puts pressure on England in the Six Nations