World Rugby confirms referees for British and Irish Lions Tests against New Zealand

by Frank Nickson Friday 24 March 2017

Frenchman Romain Poite will be one of the referees for this summer's Test series between the British and Irish Lions and New Zealand

©PA

World Rugby has confirmed the referees for the 10-game British and Irish Lions' tour of New Zealand in June.

South Africa's Jaco Peyper will feature in the first Test between the Lions and All Blacks on 24th June at Eden Park in Auckland while French official Jerome Garces will be officiating in the second game on 1st July at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

The final game of the series on 8th July at Eden Park will see French referee Romain Poite, who has officiated in more than 50 international matches in his career.

Angus Gardner, Pascal Gauzere and Mathieu Raynal are the other officials, who will be in charge during the tour games which will include clashes between Lions and Provincial Union XV, Maori All Blacks and various Super Rugby sides.

The series will kick off on 3rd June and will end with the third Test against All Blacks on 8th July.

Head coach of British and Irish Lions Warren Gatland is expected to announce the squad next month.

Lions tour referee appointments: June 3 - Provincial Union XV (Angus Gardner, Australia); 7 - Blues (Pascal Gauzere, France); 10 - Crusaders (Mathieu Raynal, France); 13 - Highlanders (Angus Gardner); 17 - Maori (Jaco Peyper, South Africa); 20 - Chiefs (Jerome Garces, France); 24 - New Zealand (Jaco Peyper); 27 - Hurricanes (Romain Poite, France); July 1 - New Zealand (Jerome Garces); July 8 - New Zealand (Romain Poite).