The IRB yesterday announced the match officials for the forthcoming series of international matches in November and December, and for the 2005 Six Nations.

Once again Irish referees, Alain Rolland, Alan Lewis and Donal Courtney are included, Rolland whistling in three of the listed games, Lewis and Courtney one each.

Rolland will be in action for two weeks in succession in November when he officiates in England's match against South Africa on the 20th, then flies to Paris for France's game against New Zealand at Stade de France.

Lewis will referee Scotland's game with Australia on November 20th with Courtney not involved until March 2005, when he travels for the Six Nations match between Italy and France in Rome.

The IRB Referees Selection Committee have also included a former national coach for the first time, reflecting the recommendation proposed by those who attended a conference on the game in January. Former Wales coach Kevin Bowring took part in the selection process for the current series of appointments.

Of the 15 Six Nations matches in early 2005, it is interesting to note nine of them are to be officiated by Southern Hemisphere referees, the five other officials coming from Wales, France, England and Ireland.

Australian Stuart Dickinson will take charge of Ireland's opening game of the autumn series against South Africa on November 13th at Lansdowne Road while Scotland's Rob Dickson will be in charge for the second of the three fixtures against the USA a week later, again in Dublin. England's Tony Spreadbury has been appointed to Ireland's final match before the Six Nations Championship as Eddie O'Sullivan's team face Argentina on November 27th.

"The Committee believes this forward planning will enable match officials to peak at the appropriate times. The appointments were made with the caveat that the appointed referees maintain performance and fitness," said David Pickering, chairman of the IRB selection Panel.

Referee Appointments

Nov 6th - Wales v South Africa (Paddy O'Brien, New Zealand); Scotland v Australia (Steve Walsh, New Zealand)

Nov 12th - Wales v Romania (Kelvin Deaker, New Zealand)

Nov 13th - England v Canada (Scott Young, Australia); Scotland v Japan (Andrew Cole, Australia); Ireland v South Africa (Stuart Dickinson, Australia)

Nov 20th - England v South Africa (Alain Rolland, Ireland); Wales v New Zealand (Tony Spreadbury, England); Scotland v Australia (Alan Lewis, Ireland); Ireland v USA (Rob Dickson, Scotland)

Nov 26th - Wales v Japan (Tappe Henning, South Africa)

Nov 27th - France v New Zealand (A Rolland), England v Australia (Paul Honiss, New Zealand); Scotland v South Africa (Nigel Williams, Wales); Ireland v Argentina (Tony Spreadbury)

2005 SIX NATIONS

Feb 5th - France v Scotland (Nigel Williams), Wales v England (Steve Walsh)

Feb 6th - Italy v Ireland (Paddy O'Brien)

Feb 12th - Italy v Wales (Andrew Cole), Scotland v Ireland (Joel Jutge, France)

Feb 13th - England v France (Paddy O'Brien)

Feb 26th - France v Wales (Paul Honiss), Scotland v Italy (Stuart Dickinson)

Feb 27th - Ireland v England (Jonathan Kaplan, South Africa)

Mar 12th - England v Italy (Mark Lawrence, South Africa); Ireland v France (Tony Spreadbury)

Mar 13th - Scotland v Wales (Jonathan Kaplan)

Mar 19th - England v Scotland (Alain Rolland), Italy v France (Donal Courtney, Ireland), Wales v Ireland (Chris White, England)