Barnes to referee Ireland games against Scotland and Italy

England’s Wayne Barnes will referee two of Ireland’s matches in the 2013 RBS Six Nations Championship.

Barnes will be in charge when Declan Kidney’s squad take on Scotland in Murrayfield on the third weekend of the tournament and also when Ireland travel to Rome for their final match.

France’s Romain Poite will preside over Ireland’s opening Six Nations game against Wales at the Millennium Stadium, while another Frenchman, Jérome Garces, will officiate when England travel to the Aviva. New Zealand-born Steve Walsh – affiliated to the Australian Rugby Union – will referee Ireland’s other home game against France.

Irish referees will also be in action. George Clancy is to officiate in two matches when France host Wales at the Stade de France and Italy’s visit to Twickenham to take on England. Alain Rolland will referee the Calcutta Cup match between England and Scotland in London.

Rolland, Clancy and John Lacey will fulfil touch judge roles in sundry games while Simon McDowell and Marshall Kilgore will act as television match officials.