Match Official appointments confirmed for World Rugby Nations Cup 2026 climax in November

The Emirates Match Official appointments have been made for the World Rugby Nations Cup 2026 matches in November as well as five representative games in October and November.

• Eighteen referees from 11 unions to take charge of 18 matches in November hosted across Europe and in Hong Kong
• The inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup resumes on 6 November
• The new competition combines with the Nations Championship to provide the world’s best 24 teams with access to top-level and meaningful competition ahead of Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027
• Ben O’Keeffe to bring up 60 tests with Spain v Uruguay on 7 November

World Rugby have confirmed the Emirates Match Official appointments for the November matches of the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup, which take place across Europe and in Hong Kong from 6-21 November.

The new competition brings together 12 nations from rugby’s most dynamic growth markets, all of whom have qualified for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027, competing across the July and November windows in two pools of six teams.

Following three compelling rounds of action in July, Georgia and USA currently sit top of their pools as the only unbeaten teams and will be eager to remain there to be crowned the inaugural champions.

Designed to deliver consistent, meaningful international fixtures and a compelling narrative for fans, the Nations Cup is a cornerstone of the evolving global calendar alongside the top division, the Nations Championship, strengthening competitiveness and building momentum towards an expanded 24-team Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.

Eighteen referees from 11 nations will take charge of the 18 matches hosted in England, France, Georgia, Hong Kong, Portugal, Romania and Spain with referees given opportunities to take charge of teams they could officiate at RWC 2027 and also for those teams to have some of the most experienced officials on the current men’s panel in the middle for their games.

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Angus Gardner (Australia) will referee the opening match of the November window, between Romania and Tonga at Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest on Friday, 6 November.

Ben Breakspear (Wales), one of five referees among the 18 who took charge of Nations Cup matches in July, will bring the curtain down on the inaugural competition by refereeing Zimbabwe v Chile at Stade Chanzy in Angoulême, France, on 21 November.

World Rugby have also announced appointments for five representative games in October and November, including Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) to referee Japan v Fiji in Tokyo on 24 October in a repeat of the recent Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup final won 20-15 by the Brave Blossoms.

Katsuki Furuse (Japan) and Damián Schneider (Argentina) will referee the USA v Australia A matches in Nashville (24 October) and New Jersey (30 October), while Amashukeli will take charge of England A v Argentina XV in Bath on 6 November and George Selwood (England) for Ireland XV v Fiji A in Cork on 20 November.

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The appointments for the Nations Championship Northern Hemisphere Series will be announced at 13:00 (GMT+1).