Nations Championship referees named for Springboks' November Tests
Sixteen referees from nine nations will handle 18 matches in Europe from 6 to 21 November, and Ireland's Eoghan Cross is first up for the Boks against Italy.
The Springboks will have a different referee for each of their three confirmed November Tests, with officials from Ireland, Italy and England taking charge as World Rugby named its appointments for the European leg of the Nations Championship.
Ireland's Eoghan Cross has the first of those games, the Test against Italy on Saturday 7 November 2026. A week later Italy's Andrea Piardi referees the Boks against France, and England's Christophe Ridley rounds off the run when South Africa meet Ireland on Saturday 21 November 2026.
Those three games are not the whole of the Springboks' programme. They face Italy, France and Ireland, and then one more opponent that has not yet been decided.
Who else has a whistle
Across the competition, 16 referees from nine nations will look after the 18 matches being played between 6 and 21 November. Two of them have been given a pair of games each: Andrew Brace of Ireland and Pierre Brousset of France.
The list does not yet include officials for the Finals weekend at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. Those names will be announced once the rankings are confirmed at the end of the Northern Hemisphere Series.
For more on officiating and appointments, see our laws and refereeing news.
Sources
- Referees confirmed for Springboks' next Tests (The South African)
