Ireland vs All Blacks referee for showdown in Chicago was pulled from game last minute

Friday, 31 October 2025 at 20:08

byCharlie Elliott

Who is the Ireland vs All Blacks referee? Pierre Brousset will be the man in the middle when Ireland face the All Blacks in tomorrow's Quilter Nations Series match, played in Chicago.

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Who is the Ireland vs New Zealand referee tomorrow?

Born in 1989 in Rieumes, France, Pierre Brousset’s journey through rugby began on the playing fields of his hometown club. Like many kids growing up in rugby country, he dreamed big — but his path would eventually lead him not to the try line, but to the whistle.

In 2014, Brousset took his first steps into officiating, becoming a semi-professional referee. His rise was rapid. Within just a couple of years, his composure and feel for the game earned him a place among France’s top officials, debuting in the Top 14 during the 2016–2017 season.

Since then, Brousset has become a familiar face across Europe’s premier competitions — the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup — and, more recently, in the United Rugby Championship (URC). He made his URC debut in the 2021–2022 season, overseeing the clash between Treviso and Connacht, and becoming only the eighth French referee to take part in the league.

A milestone moment came on 11 February, when Brousset made his Six Nations debut at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, refereeing Ireland vs Italy alongside compatriots Mathieu Raynal and Luc Ramos. For the man who once watched the tournament by the fireplace with his family, standing in the middle of the pitch was a moment of deep pride and fulfilment.

This was a year later than planned as he was due to referee the clash between Ireland and Italy in Dublin the year before. However, a last-minute injury forced him to pull of the game, and he was replaced by Luke Pearce.

By 2025, his reputation had grown further, culminating in his appointment to referee the Top 14 final between Stade Toulousain and Union Bordeaux Bègles on June 28, 2025 — a significant recognition of his standing among French referees.

Over the years, Pierre has also played a vital supporting role in the international game, often running touch and contributing with professionalism and enthusiasm. During the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, he was involved in seven matches from the touchline, adding yet another highlight to his growing résumé.

Sat 1 Nov – Quilter Nations Series round 1
Ireland vs All Blacks referee (Chicago)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
ARs: Karl Dickson (Eng) & Luc Ramos (Fra)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
FPRO: Dan Jones (Eng)

Autumn Internationals Referees 2025

Saturday, 18 October 2025

Japan XV v Australia A – National Stadium, Tokyo
- Referee: Morgan White (HKCR)
- Assistant Referee 1: JRFU appointment
- Assistant Referee 2: JRFU appointment
- TMO: JRFU appointment

Saturday, 25 October 2025

Japan v Australia – National Stadium, Tokyo
- Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (NZR)
- Assistant Referee 1: Angus Mabey (NZR)
- Assistant Referee 2: Morgan White (HKCR)
- TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR)
- FRPO: Matt Rodden (HKCR)

Saturday, 1 November 2025

England v Australia – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
- Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
- Assistant Referee 1: James Doleman (NZR)
- Assistant Referee 2: Craig Evans (WRU)
- TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
- FRPO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

South Africa v Japan – Wembley Stadium, London
- Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
- Assistant Referee 1: Ben O'Keeffe (NZR)
- Assistant Referee 2: Adam Leal (RFU)
- TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
- FRPO: Tual Trainini (FFR)

Scotland v USA – Murrayfield, Edinburgh
- Referee: Damián Schneider (UAR)
- Assistant Referee 1: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
- Assistant Referee 2: Katsuki Furuse (JRFU)
- TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
- FRPO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

Ireland v New Zealand – Soldier Field, Chicago, USA
- Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
- Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (RFU)
- Assistant Referee 2: Luc Ramos (FFR)
- TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
- FRPO: Dan Jones (RFU)

Barbarians v All Blacks XV – Gtech Community Stadium, London
- Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
- Assistant Referee 1: RFU appointment
- Assistant Referee 2: RFU appointment
- TMO: RFU appointment

Munster v Argentina XV – Thomond Park, Limerick
- Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
- Assistant Referee 1: Peter Martin (IRFU)
- Assistant Referee 2: Jack MacNeice (IRFU)
- TMO: Mark Patton (IRFU)

Friday, 7 November 2025

Bristol Bears v Argentina XV – Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol
- Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
- Assistant Referee 1: RFU appointment
- Assistant Referee 2: RFU appointment
- TMO: RFU appointment

Saturday, 8 November 2025

Ireland v Japan – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
- Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
- Assistant Referee 1: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
- Assistant Referee 2: Federico Vedovelli (FIR)
- TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
- FRPO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

Scotland v New Zealand – Murrayfield, Edinburgh
- Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
- Assistant Referee 1: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
- Assistant Referee 2: Morné Ferreira (SARU)
- TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
- FRPO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Georgia v USA – Adjarabet Arena, Batumi
- Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
- Assistant Referee 1: Adam Leal (RFU)
- Assistant Referee 2: George Selwood (RFU)
- TMO: Dan Jones (RFU)

England v Fiji – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
- Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
- Assistant Referee 1: Luc Ramos (FFR)
- Assistant Referee 2: Katsuki Furuse (JRFU)
- TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
- FRPO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)

Italy v Australia – Bluenergy Stadium, Udine
- Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
- Assistant Referee 1: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
- Assistant Referee 2: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
- TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
- FRPO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)

France v South Africa – Stade de France, Saint-Denis
- Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
- Assistant Referee 1: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
- Assistant Referee 2: Christophe Ridley (RFU)
- TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
- FRPO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)

Romania v Canada – Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
- Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU)
- Assistant Referee 1: Adam Jones (WRU)
- Assistant Referee 2: Ben Connor (WRU)
- TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)

Portugal v Uruguay – Estádio Nacional do Jamor, Lisbon
- Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
- Assistant Referee 1: Kevin Bralley (FFR)
- Assistant Referee 2: Evan Urruzmendi (FFR)
- TMO: Tual Trainini (FFR)

Spain v Ireland A – Estadio Ontime Butarque, Leganés
- Referee: Tomás Bertazza (UAR)
- Assistant Referee 1: Morgan White (HKCR)
- Assistant Referee 2: FER appointment
- TMO: Paulo Duarte (FPR)

England A v All Blacks XV – The Recreation Ground, Bath
- Referee: RFU appointment
- Assistant Referee 1: RFU appointment
- Assistant Referee 2: RFU appointment
- TMO: RFU appointment

Sunday, 9 November 2025

Wales v Argentina – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
- Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (NZR)
- Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (RFU)
- Assistant Referee 2: Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU)
- TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
- FRPO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

Saturday, 15 November 2025

Italy v South Africa – Allianz Stadium, Turin
- Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
- Assistant Referee 1: Ben O'Keeffe (NZR)
- Assistant Referee 2: Jérémy Rozier (FFR)
- TMO: Tual Trainini (FFR)
- FRPO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

England v New Zealand – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
- Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
- Assistant Referee 1: Luc Ramos (FFR)
- Assistant Referee 2: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
- TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
- FRPO: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Georgia v Canada – Adjarabet Arena, Batumi
- Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
- Assistant Referee 1: Federico Vedovelli (FIR)
- Assistant Referee 2: Filippo Russo (FIR)
- TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)

Romania v USA – Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
- Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
- Assistant Referee 1: Saba Abulashvili (GRU)
- Assistant Referee 2: Peter Martin (IRFU)
- TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Wales v Japan – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
- Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
- Assistant Referee 1: Nic Berry (RA)
- Assistant Referee 2: Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU)
- TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
- FRPO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)

Ireland v Australia – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
- Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
- Assistant Referee 1: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
- Assistant Referee 2: Adam Leal (RFU)
- TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
- FRPO: Dan Jones (RFU)

France v Fiji – Stade Atlantique, Bordeaux
- Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU)
- Assistant Referee 1: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
- Assistant Referee 2: Morné Ferreira (SARU)
- TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
- FRPO: Stuart Terheege (RFU)

Portugal v Hong Kong China – Estádio Nacional do Jamor, Lisbon
- Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
- Assistant Referee 1: Ben Breakspear (WRU)
- Assistant Referee 2: Ben Connor (WRU)
- TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Spain v England A – Campo José Zorrilla, Valladolid
- Referee: Morgan White (HKCR)
- Assistant Referee 1: Tomás Bertazza (UAR)
- Assistant Referee 2: FER appointment
- TMO: Paulo Duarte (FPR)

Sunday, 16 November 2025

Scotland v Argentina – Murrayfield, Edinburgh
- Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
- Assistant Referee 1: Angus Gardner (RA)
- Assistant Referee 2: Luke Pearce (RFU)
- TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
- FRPO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)

Uruguay v All Blacks XV – Montpellier, France
- Referee: FFR appointment
- Assistant Referee 1: FFR appointment
- Assistant Referee 2: FFR appointment
- TMO: FFR appointment

Saturday, 22 November 2025

Wales v New Zealand – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
- Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
- Assistant Referee 1: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
- Assistant Referee 2: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
- TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
- FRPO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Georgia v Japan – Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi
- Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
- Assistant Referee 1: Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU)
- Assistant Referee 2: Peter Martin (IRFU)
- TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)

Spain v Fiji – Estadio Ciudad de Málaga, Málaga
- Referee: Damián Schneider (UAR)
- Assistant Referee 1: Federico Vedovelli (FIR)
- Assistant Referee 2: George Selwood (RFU)
- TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)

Ireland v South Africa – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
- Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
- Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (RFU)
- Assistant Referee 2: Christophe Ridley (RFU)
- TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
- FRPO: Dan Jones (RFU)

Italy v Chile – Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
- Referee: Adam Leal (RFU)
- Assistant Referee 1: Adam Jones (WRU)
- Assistant Referee 2: Ben Connor (WRU)
- TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
- FRPO: Stuart Terheege (RFU)

France v Australia – Stade de France, Saint-Denis
- Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
- Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
- Assistant Referee 2: Craig Evans (WRU)
- TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
- FRPO: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Portugal v Canada – Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, Coimbra
- Referee: Morné Ferreira (SARU)
- Assistant Referee 1: Saba Abulashvili (GRU)
- Assistant Referee 2: Filippo Russo (FIR)
- TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Romania v Uruguay – Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
- Referee: Jérémy Rozier (FFR)
- Assistant Referee 1: Ben Breakspear (WRU)
- Assistant Referee 2: Kevin Bralley (FFR)
- TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)

Sunday, 23 November 2025

Scotland v Tonga – Murrayfield, Edinburgh
- Referee: Luc Ramos (FFR)
- Assistant Referee 1: Evan Urruzmendi (FFR)
- Assistant Referee 2: Benoît Rousselet (FFR)
- TMO: Tual Trainini (FFR)
- FRPO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

England v Argentina – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
- Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
- Assistant Referee 1: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
- Assistant Referee 2: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
- TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
- FRPO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Saturday, 29 November 2025

Wales v South Africa – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
- Referee: Luc Ramos (FFR)
- Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Carley (RFU)
- Assistant Referee 2: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
- TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
- FRPO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)