World Rugby has confirmed the match official appointments for the 2026 Nations Championship in the northern hemisphere in November.
After a thrilling set of games in July, the northern leg begins in the first weekend of November with Ireland and Argentina kicking off proceedings in Dublin.
Englishman Luke Pearce will take charge of that clash while on Saturday Irish official Andrew Brace is handed the biggest match of round as Scotland face the All Blacks.
The opening round ends with England and the Wallabies going head-to-head where France’s Pierre Brousset is the man in the middle.
A few days later and the competition hots up with the start of the second round as Andrea Piardi is given the responsibility of France v Springboks.
Wallabies v Springboks controversy
The Italian will be running the touchline for the Edinburgh clash in week one, but it will be his first Test in charge since the back-to-back world champions’ encounter with the Wallabies in September.
Piardi was criticised by former Australia captain Michael Hooper following the Boks’ 42-38 defeat after the Aussies only had 11 players on the field at one stage after four quick-fire sin-binnings.
Michael Hooper hides referee bias accusation behind call for World Rugby to protect Andrea Piardi
The South Africans also have a big game a week later when they take on Ireland at the Aviva Stadium. A year ago, Matthew Carley was the referee as he yellow carded four Irishman and there is another Englishman in the middle for the rematch with Christophe Ridley handed the huge clash.
On the same weekend, England welcome Dave Rennie’s All Blacks to Allianz Stadium, Twickenham and that is being officiated by Australian Nic Berry.
Nations Championship November match official appointments
Week one
Ireland v Argentina
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistant referees: Hollie Davidson (SRU), Morne Ferreira (SARU)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
Italy v South Africa
Allianz Stadium, Turin
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
Assistant referees: James Doleman (NZR), Sam Grove-White (SRU)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)
FPRO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
Scotland v New Zealand
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (FIR), Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
Wales v Japan
Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley (RFU), Angus Mabey (NZR)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZR)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
France v Fiji
Groupana Stadium, Lyon
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant referees: Damian Schneider (UAR), Katsuki Furuse (JRFU)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
FPRO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
England v Australia
Allianz Stadium, London
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Jeremy Rozier (FFR)
TMO: Tual Trainini (FFR)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
Week two
France v South Africa
Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley (RFU), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
FPRO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
Italy v Argentina
Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (RFU), Morne Ferreira (SARU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
FPRO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
Wales v New Zealand
Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Assistant referees: Nic Berry (RA), Luc Ramos (FFR)
TMO: Tual Trainini (FFR)
FPRO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
England v Japan
Allianz Stadium, London
Referee: Damian Schneider (UAR)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR), Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FPRO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
Ireland v Fiji
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
Assistant referees: Luke Pearce (RFU), Damon Murphy (RA)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
Scotland v Australia
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (NZR), Angus Mabey (NZR)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
Week three
England v New Zealand
Allianz Stadium, London
Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Damon Murphy (RA)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FPRO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Scotland v Japan
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant referees: James Doleman (NZR), Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR)
FPRO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
Ireland v South Africa
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (RA), Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
FPRO: Tual Trainini (FFR)
Italy v Fiji
Bluenergy Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (NZR), Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
FPRO: Dan Jones (RFU)
France v Argentina
Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (RFU), Sam Grove-White (SRU)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
Wales v Argentina
Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Luc Ramos (FFR)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (RFU), Jeremy Rozier (FFR)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
FPRO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)