Springboks vs All Blacks referee confirmed – he’s already angered both nations
Rugby NewsFriday, 11 September 2026 at 20:31
Karl Dickson has been handed one of the biggest refereeing appointments of the year, taking charge of the fourth and final Test between the Springboks and All Blacks.
The English official will oversee the blockbuster series finale, with South Africa heading into the contest holding a 2-1 advantage following their 29-24 victory at FNB Stadium.
Dickson is one of World Rugby’s most experienced current officials and has been trusted with a number of major international fixtures.
However, as is often the case for referees operating at the very highest level, some of his previous performances have attracted criticism — including from voices on both sides of rugby’s greatest rivalry.
New Zealand criticism
Dickson came under scrutiny from some New Zealand pundits following the All Blacks’ clash with the Stormers earlier in the tour.
All Blacks great Sir John Kirwan was among those unhappy with the way the contest was officiated, describing the refereeing as “pedantic”.
New Zealand outlet 1News also described Dickson as “officious” following a match in which the All Blacks were shown three yellow cards.
That criticism should be viewed in context, however. Dickson was applying the laws in a difficult contest and, as with most major refereeing performances, opinions differed considerably over individual decisions.
It was also far from the first time an international referee has found themselves at the centre of debate following an All Blacks Test.
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Springboks have history too
South African rugby followers will also be familiar with Dickson.
He was the man in the middle when New Zealand defeated the Springboks 24-17 at Eden Park in 2025, a match which generated its own refereeing discussion.
Afterwards, Rassie Erasmus was asked about a suggestion that Dickson had been reluctant to penalise New Zealand during the closing stages.
The Springbok boss, though, resisted the opportunity to criticise the official and instead focused on his own team's performance.
That is important context heading into the fourth Test. While Dickson has inevitably been criticised during his career, he remains a highly-rated official who continues to be selected for rugby's biggest matches.
Huge appointment
The attention on Dickson this weekend will nevertheless be enormous.
South Africa can secure the series with victory, while the All Blacks know a win would level the four-Test contest at 2-2.
With one of international rugby's fiercest rivalries reaching its conclusion, virtually every scrum, breakdown and disciplinary decision is likely to be examined from both sides.
Dickson will have the unenviable task of keeping the focus on the rugby.
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Five quirky facts about Springboks vs All Blacks referee Karl Dickson
. He once replaced his own brother for England
Dickson was drafted into England’s squad during their 2012 tour of South Africa and featured against South African Barbarians North.
The unusual part? He came off the bench to replace his younger brother, Lee Dickson, who would go on to win 18 Test caps for England. The pair’s unusual route to the top was later explored by BBC Sport, with both brothers having attended Barnard Castle School.
2. He started refereeing while he was still playing
Rather than waiting until retirement, Dickson began learning to referee in 2014 while still playing professionally for Harlequins.
He gradually fitted refereeing appointments around his playing career before eventually calling time on his Harlequins career in 2017 to make the switch permanent, as BBC Sport reported at the time.
3. He could have carried on playing
Dickson’s transition wasn't forced on him. He has since revealed that he actually had the opportunity to continue playing professional rugby.
Instead, he approached the RFU to see whether there was an opportunity to become a full-time referee and decided to swap the No.9 shirt for the whistle.
Speaking about the decision in a Six Nations Q&A, Dickson explained that refereeing had already become something he was seriously considering before his playing days were over.
4. He admits he didn't properly understand rugby's laws as a player
Perhaps the most surprising admission from an international referee is that Dickson believes he didn't fully understand rugby's laws while playing professionally.
Dickson admitted to Six Nations Rugby that it was one of his regrets from his playing career, believing a greater knowledge of the laws could have given him an advantage over opponents.
Given scrum-halves' reputation for constantly talking to referees, it's quite the confession.
5. He says referees can be fitter than the players
After switching careers, Dickson discovered just how physically demanding refereeing actually is.
He has previously argued that elite officials can be aerobically fitter than professional players, telling Sky Sports that the fitness requirements for top-level referees are extremely demanding.
Dickson has also revealed that referees can cover between 6km and 9km during a match, while his own Bronco time of 4 minutes 39 seconds isn't too shabby for someone whose job supposedly involves just blowing a whistle.
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