Match Officials appointed for 2016 Rugby Championship

South Africa’s Jaco Peyper will blow the first whistle on this year’s Rugby Championship as he takes charge of the Australia v New Zealand game in Sydney on 20 August.

The 36-year-old veteran of 31 test matches is one of three referees to have received two appointments in this year’s championship with the others being Jérôme Garcès of France and England’s Wayne Barnes.

A fourth referee, Nigel Owens of Wales, will referee one game in the championship and the Bledisloe Cup match between Australia and New Zealand.

Angus Gardner of Australia and Mathieu Raynal of France will take charge of their first Rugby Championship matches.

Australia vs New Zealand 20 Aug 2016	Referee Jaco Peyper (South Africa)     Assistant 1 Romain Poite (France)     Assistant 2 Federico Anselmi (Argentina)     TMO Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
South Africa vs Argentina 20 Aug 2016	Referee Glen Jackson (New Zealand)     Assistant 1 Jérôme Garcès (France)     Assistant 2 Ben O'Keeffe (New Zelaand)     TMO George Ayoub (Australia)
New Zealand vs Australia 27 Aug 2016	Referee Romain Poite (France)     Assistant 1 Jaco Peyper (South Africa)     Assistant 2 Federico Anselmi (Argentina)     TMO Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Argentina vs South Africa 27 Aug 2016	Referee Jérôme Garcès (France)     Assistant 1 Glen Jackson (New Zealand)     Assistant 2 Ben O'Keeffe (New Zelaand)     TMO George Ayoub (Australia)
New Zealand vs Argentina 10 Sep 2016	Referee Craig Joubert (South Africa)     Assistant 1 Angus Gardner (Australia)     Assistant 2 Marius Mitrea (Italy)     TMO George Ayoub (Australia)
Australia vs South Africa 10 Sep 2016	Referee Nigel Owens (Wales)     Assistant 1 Wayne Barnes (England)     Assistant 2 Pascal Gauzere (France)     TMO Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
New Zealand vs South Africa 17 Sep 2016	Referee Angus Gardner (Australia)     Assistant 1 Pascal Gauzere (France)     Assistant 2 Marius Mitrea (Italy)     TMO George Ayoub (Australia)
Australia vs Argentina 17 Sep 2016	Referee Wayne Barnes (England)     Assistant 1 Nigel Owens (Wales)     Assistant 2 Nick Briant (New Zealand)     TMO Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
South Africa vs Australia 1 Oct 2016	Referee Wayne Barnes (England)     Assistant 1 Johnny Lacey (Ireland)     Assistant 2 George Clancy (Ireland)     TMO Jim Yuille (Scotland)
Argentina vs New Zealand 1 Oct 2016	Referee Jaco Peyper (South Africa)     Assistant 1 Angus Gardner (Australia)     Assistant 2 Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)     TMO Johan Greeff (South Africa)
South Africa vs New Zealand 8 Oct 2016	Referee Jérôme Garcès (France)     Assistant 1 Johnny Lacey (Ireland)     Assistant 2 George Clancy (Ireland)     TMO Jim Yuille (Scotland)
Argentina vs Australia 8 Oct 2016	Referee Mathieu Raynal (France)     Assistant 1 JP Doyle (England)     Assistant 2 Matthew Carley (England)     TMO Rowan Kitt (England)
New Zealand vs Australia 22 Oct 2016	Referee Nigel Owens (Wales)     Assistant 1 Craig Joubert (South Africa)     Assistant 2 Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)     TMO Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)