Match officials confirmed for this weekend, including Wales vs England referee

Thursday, 23 February 2023 at 14:38

byRugby Rucker

Referee appointments for round three of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations, including the Wales vs England referee at Twickenham.

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Italy v Ireland (Stadio Olimpico, Rome; Saturday 25 February – 2.15pm)

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Assistant Referee 1: Wayne Barnes (RFU)

Assistant Referee 2: Craig Evans (WRU)

TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Adamson has been employed by the Scottish Rugby Union as a professional referee since 2014, having started off on the World Sevens Series, before taking charge of Pro14 matches and ultimately making the step up to international rugby.

Referee, Mike Adamson checks the TMO during the European Champions Cup match between Harlequins and Castres at Twickenham Stoop, London on January 21 2022. Photo: Micah Crook/PPAUK

Wales v England (Principality Stadium, Cardiff; Saturday 25 February – 4.45pm)

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)

Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

Assistant Referee 2: Pierre Brousset (FFR)

TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)

The 41-year-old joined a local refereeing society in 2001 and was promoted to a full-time role by the age of 26.

Raynal slowly worked his way through the ranks by officiating amateur matches at first - alongside being promoted to the second division of professional rugby in France as a player.

But by 2004, Raynal switched his entire focus into becoming a full-time referee, took charge of his first pro game in 2006 and was named on the Top 14 refereeing panel the following season.

The Frenchman was involved a horrific accident during Montpellier vs Racing Metro in 2013 when he got caught between two players, suffering a double leg break and a broken collarbone.

Referee, Mathieu Raynal during the Heineken Champions Cup Round 4 match between Gloucester Rugby and Exeter Chiefs at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester, Gloucestershire on December 14. - PHOTO: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

France v Scotland (Stade de France, Paris; Sunday 26 February – 3pm)

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)

Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (RFU)

Assistant Referee 2: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Referee, Nika Amashukeli shows Will Goodrick-Clarke of London Irish a red card during the European Challenge Cup Rugby match between London Irish and Cardiff Blues at The Brentford Community Stadium, Brentford, London on April 2 2021. - PHOTO: Micah Crook/PPAUK

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