World Rugby have confirmed the match official appointments for the Nations Championship matches taking place in Europe in November, and which will see the Springboks face Italy, Ireland and France, as well as one final opponent (still to be determined).
Sixteen referees from nine nations will take charge of the 18 Nations Championship matches played from 6-21 November with Andrew Brace (Ireland) and Pierre Brousset (France) handed two matches.
The appointments for the Finals weekend at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham from 27-29 November will be announced once rankings are confirmed after the conclusion of the Northern Hemisphere Series.
For the Springboks, their clash against Italy on 7 November will be refereed by Eoghan Cross of Ireland, while Italy’s Andrea Piardi will take charge of the big battle against France the week after.
When it comes to the Springboks’ Test against Ireland on 21 November, Christophe Ridley from England will be the man in the middle.
OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS AS THE SPRINGBOKS GET READY FOR BATTLE
| Ireland v Argentina Aviva Stadium, Dublin Friday, 6 November, 2026 | Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Hollie Davidson (SRU) Assistant Referee 2: Morné Ferreira (SARU) TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU) FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR) |
| Italy v South Africa Allianz Stadium, Turin Saturday, 7 November, 2026 | Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) Assistant Referee 1: James Doleman (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Sam Grove-White (SRU) TMO: Brett Cronan (RA) FPRO: Mike Adamson (SRU) |
| Scotland v New Zealand Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Saturday, 7 November, 2026 | Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU) Assistant Referee 1: Andrea Piardi (FIR) Assistant Referee 2: Jordan Way (RA) TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU) FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU) |
| Wales v Japan Principality Stadium, Cardiff Saturday, 7 November, 2026 | Referee: Paul Williams (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Christophe Ridley (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Angus Mabey (NZR) TMO: Glenn Newman (NZR) FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR) |
| France v Fiji Groupama Stadium, Lyon Saturday, 7 November, 2026 | Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Damián Schneider (UAR) Assistant Referee 2: Katsuki Furuse (JRFU) TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU) FPRO: Leo Colgan (IRFU) |
| England v Australia Allianz Stadium, London Sunday, 8 November, 2026 | Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Nika Amashukeli (GRU) Assistant Referee 2: Jérémy Rozier (FFR) TMO: Tual Trainini (FFR) FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR) |
| France v South Africa Stade de France, Saint-Denis Friday, 13 November, 2026 | Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR) Assistant Referee 1: Christophe Ridley (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR) TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR) FPRO: Andrew Jackson (RFU) |
| Italy v Argentina Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa Saturday, 14 November, 2026 | Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU) Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Morné Ferreira (SARU) TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU) FPRO: Ian Tempest (RFU) |
| Wales v New Zealand Principality Stadium, Cardiff Saturday, 14 November, 2026 | Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Nic Berry (RA) Assistant Referee 2: Luc Ramos (FFR) TMO: Tual Trainini (FFR) FPRO: Leo Colgan (IRFU) |
| England v Japan Allianz Stadium, London Saturday, 14 November, 2026 | Referee: Damián Schneider (UAR) Assistant Referee 1: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Craig Evans (WRU) TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU) FPRO: Aled Griffiths (WRU) |
| Ireland v Fiji Aviva Stadium, Dublin Saturday, 14 November, 2026 | Referee: Angus Gardner (RA) Assistant Referee 1: Luke Pearce (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Damon Murphy (RA) TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU) FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR) |
| Scotland v Australia Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Sunday, 15 November, 2026 | Referee: James Doleman (RA) Assistant Referee 1: Paul Williams (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Angus Mabey (NZR) TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU) FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR) |
| England v New Zealand Allianz Stadium, London Saturday, 21 November, 2026 | Referee: Nic Berry (RA) Assistant Referee 1: Nika Amashukeli (GRU) Assistant Referee 2: Damon Murphy (RA) TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU) FPRO: Olly Hodges (IRFU) |
| Scotland v Japan Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Saturday, 21 November, 2026 | Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: James Doleman (RA) Assistant Referee 2: Craig Evans (WRU) TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR) FPRO: Aled Griffiths (WRU) |
| Ireland v Springboks Aviva Stadium, Dublin Saturday, 21 November, 2026 | Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Angus Gardner (RA) Assistant Referee 2: Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU) TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU) FPRO: Tual Trainini (FFR) |
| Italy v Fiji Bluenergy Stadium, Udine Saturday, 21 November, 2026 | Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU) Assistant Referee 1: Paul Williams (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU) FPRO: Dan Jones (RFU) |
| France v Argentina Stade de France, Saint-Denis Saturday, 21 November, 2026 | Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU) Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Carley (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Sam Grove-White (SRU) TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU) FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR) |
| Wales v Australia Principality Stadium, Cardiff Saturday, 21 November, 2026 | Referee: Luc Ramos (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Jérémy Rozier (FFR) TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR) FPRO: Andrew Jackson (RFU) |
| North 6 v South 6 Allianz Stadium, London, England Friday, 27 November, 2026 | Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: TMO: FPRO: |
| North 3 v South 3 Allianz Stadium, London, England Friday, 27 November, 2026 | Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: TMO: FPRO: |
| North 5 v South 5 Allianz Stadium, London, England Saturday, 28 November, 2026 | Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: TMO: FPRO: |
| North 2 v South 2 Allianz Stadium, London, England Saturday, 28 November, 2026 | Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: TMO: FPRO: |
| North 4 v South 4 Allianz Stadium, London, England Saturday, 28 November, 2026 | Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: TMO: FPRO: |
| North 1 v South 1 Allianz Stadium, London, England Saturday, 28 November, 2026 | Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: TMO: FPRO: |
HOW THE CURRENT NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP LOGS LOOK
Southern Hemisphere Table
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | Pts |
| 1 | Springboks | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +81 | 15 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +51 | 15 |
| 3 | Australia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +29 | 8 |
| 4 | Argentina | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 7 |
| 5 | Japan | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -26 | 4 |
| 6 | Fiji | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -96 | 0 |
Northern Hemisphere Table
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | Pts |
| 1 | France | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +41 | 12 |
| 2 | Scotland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +11 | 11 |
| 3 | England | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +48 | 10 |
| 4 | Ireland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 10 |
| 5 | Wales | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -42 | 5 |
| 6 | Italy | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -94 | 0 |