World Rugby has announced that French referee Jerome Garces will take charge of the Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa in Japan this Saturday.
In being named as the man in the middle for the game he becomes the first ever Frenchman to referee the biggest game in the rugby calender. With 55 tests to his name, including 11 World Cup games, Garces is an experienced enough official but this will be his biggest moment and he is delighted to have the chance.
“I am honoured and delighted to be appointed to referee the Rugby World Cup 2019 final. It is a dream as a referee, but this is a team sport, and as a team of four, we will be out there to do the best for the teams, the fans, the sport, but also the entire match officials team, selectors and support team, who have worked so hard over the last four years, culminating in Rugby World Cup 2019,” he said.
He will be joined in the officiating of the game by fellow Frenchman Romain Poite and New Zealand’s Ben O’Keeffe as the assistant referees, while another Kiwi in Ben Skeen will be the TMO on the day.
Chairman of World Rugby Bill Beaumont spoke of his happiness with the tournament so far in terms of officiating and congratulated Garces on being named the referee for the final.
“This has been one of the great Rugby World Cups, perhaps the greatest and there is significant excitement ahead of what promises to be an exceptional final between two former champions – England and South Africa. Our match officials have played their full role in this special tournament and I would like to congratulate Jérôme and the team on their appointments, which are thoroughly deserved. I would like to wish them all the best for what promises to be a very exciting finale to Rugby World Cup 2019,” he said.
Meanwhile, England’s Wayne Barnes will take control of Friday’s third-place play-off between New Zealand and Wales, as he also did in the 2011 edition of the tournament. France’s Pascal Gauzere and South Africa’s Jaco Peyper will be his assistant referee’s, with fellow Springbok Marius Jonker the TMO.
It is a welcome return for Peyper, who was not considered for the last round of fixtures due to an off-field incident. However, hopefully what happens on the pitch will be the main talking point once the tournament concludes on Saturday and not the officials.
