Referees named for Lions series

Chris Pollock, Craig Joubert and Romain Poite the officials for tests against Australia

The IRB has appointed referees for all three of this summer’s tests between Australia and the British and Irish Lions. None of the referees chosen have previous experience of a Lions test.

The three appointments were made following a review of performances during the recent Six Nations and other fixtures.

Chris Pollock of Australia will take charge of the first test in Brisbane on June 22nd, before South African official Craig Joubert referees the second match in Melbourne a week later.

Romain Poite will be the man in the middle for the third and final test in Sydney on July 6th.

READ MORE

The New Zealand-born Australian official Steve Walsh, who received a four-month suspension for verbally abusing the Lions’ Irish winger Shane Horgan during the 2005 tour against the All Blacks, will take charge of the curtain-raiser between the Lions and the Barbarians in Hong Kong.