When the Springboks and Ireland clash in July over two Tests, it will effectively serve as a battle for which team will be regarded as the No 1 side in the world.
Currently, the world champion Springboks are at the summit of the standings, but Ireland are not far behind after winning the Six Nations title earlier this year.
It’s now been confirmed that Australia’s Angus Gardner and Karl Dickson from England have been appointed to referee the Springboks’ two Tests against Ireland in Pretoria and Durban respectively.
For the first Test between the Springboks and Ireland, the assistants will be Karl Dickson (RFU) and Mike Adamson (SRU), while the TMO duties will be fulfilled by Ben Whitehouse (WRU).
Meanwhile, Angus Gardner (RA) will act as an assistant for the Test in Durban along with Craig Evans (WRU), while the TMO will be Ian Tempest (RFU).
The Springboks and Ireland are set for a blockbuster battle:
Japan v England Japan National Stadium, Tokyo Saturday, 22 June, 2024 |
Referee: Luc Ramos (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) Assistant Referee 2: Angus Mabey (NZR) TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR) |
Fiji v Barbarians Twickenham Stadium, London Saturday, 22 June, 2024 |
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR) Assistant Referee 1: Craig Evans (WRU) Assistant Referee 2: Federico Vedovelli (FIR) TMO: Stuart Terheege (RFU) |
South Africa v Wales Twickenham Stadium, London Saturday, 22 June, 2024 |
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU) Assistant Referee 1: Christophe Ridley (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Adam Leal (RFU) TMO: Mark Patton (IRFU) |
Japan XV v Maori All Blacks Prince Chichibu Memorial Ground, Tokyo Saturday, 29 June, 2024 |
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) Assistant Referee 1: Luc Ramos (FFR) Assistant Referee 2: Damian Schneider (UAR) TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU) |
Samoa v Italy Apia Park, Apia Friday, 5 July, 2024 |
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Dan Waenga (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Tevita Rokovereni (FRU) TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR) |
Georgia v Fiji Adjarabet Arena, Batumi Friday, 5 July, 2024 |
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU) Assistant Referee 1: Luke Pearce (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Christophe Ridley (RFU) TMO: TBC |
USA v Romania SeatGeek Stadium, Chicago, IL Friday, 5 July, 2024 |
Referee: Angus Mabey (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Marcus Playle (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Robin Kaluzniak (RC) TMO: TBC |
Australia v Wales Allianz Stadium, Sydney Saturday, 6 July, 2024 |
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: James Doleman (NZR) TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU) |
New Zealand v England Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Saturday, 6 July, 2024 |
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU) Assistant Referee 1: Nic Berry (RA) Assistant Referee 2: Jordan Way (RA) TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR) |
South Africa v Ireland Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Saturday, 6 July, 2024 |
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA) Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Mike Adamson (SRU) TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU) |
Argentina v France Malvinas Argentinas Stadium, Mendoza Saturday, 6 July, 2024 |
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU) Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Brace (IRFU) Assistant Referee 2: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU) |
Japan XV v Maori All Blacks Toyota Stadium, Aichi Saturday, 6 July, 2024 |
Referee: Damian Schneider (UAR) Assistant Referee 1: Andrea Piardi (FIR) Assistant Referee 2: Luc Ramos (FFR) TMO: Oli Kellett (RA) |
Canada v Scotland TD Place Stadium, Ottawa Saturday, 6 July, 2024 |
Referee: Adam Leal (IRFU) Assistant Referee 1: Jordan Way (RA) Assistant Referee 2: Kahlil Harrison (USAR) TMO: Austin Reed (USAR) |
Chile v Hong Kong China TBC, Chile Saturday, 6 July, 2024 |
Referee: Gonzalo de Achaval (URU) Assistant Referee 1: Francisco Gonzalez (URU) Assistant Referee 2: Sergio Alvarenga (Paraguay) TMO: N/A |
Uruguay v France Estadio Charrua, Montevideo Wednesday, 10 July, 2024 |
Referee: Angus Mabey (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Gonzalo de Achaval (URU) Assistant Referee 2: Tomás Bertazza (UAR) TMO: N/A< |
USA v Scotland Audi Field, Washington DC Friday, 12 July, 2024 |
Referee: Jordan Way (RA) Assistant Referee 1: Adam Leal (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Robin Kaluzniak (RC) TMO: Chris Assmus (RC)<//td> |
Tonga v Italy Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku’alofa Friday, 12 July, 2024 |
Referee: Damian Schneider (UAR) Assistant Referee 1: Paul Williams (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: James Doleman (NZR) TMO: N/A |
Canada v Romania TD Place Stadium, Ottawa Friday, 12 July, 2024 |
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU) Assistant Referee 1: Kat Roche (USAR) Assistant Referee 2: Luke Rogan (USAR) TMO: N/A |
Australia v Wales AAMI Park, Melbourne Saturday, 13 July, 2024 |
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU) Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Carley (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Pierre Brousset (FFR) TMO: Glenn Newman (NZR) |
New Zealand v England Eden Park, Auckland Saturday, 13 July, 2024 |
Referee: Nic Berry (RA) Assistant Referee 1: Damon Murphy (RA) Assistant Referee 2: George Myers (RA) TMO: Brett Cronan (RA) |
South Africa v Ireland Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban Saturday, 13 July, 2024 |
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Angus Gardner (RA) Assistant Referee 2: Craig Evans (WRU) TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU) |
Argentina v France Estadio José Amalfitani, Vélez, Buenos Aires Saturday, 13 July, 2024 |
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU) Assistant Referee 1: Chris Busby (IRFU) Assistant Referee 2: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU) |
Japan v Georgia Yurtec Stadium, Sendai Saturday, 13 July, 2024 |
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR) Assistant Referee 1: Luke Pearce (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Christophe Ridley (RFU) TMO: James Leckie (RA) |
Samoa v Spain Apia Park, Apia Saturday, 13 July, 2024 |
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Jordan Kaminski (RA) Assistant Referee 2: Tevita Rokovereni (FRU) TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR)</ p> |
Paraguay v Hong Kong China Estadio Héroes de Curupayty, Luque Saturday, 13 July, 2024 |
Referee: Francisco Gonzalez (URU) Assistant Referee 1: Simón Larrubia (UAR) Assistant Referee 2: Frank Méndez (Chile) |
Chile v Belgium Venue TBC, Chile Saturday, 13 July, 2024 |
Referee: Tómas Bertazza (UAR) Assistant Referee 1: Mauro Rossi (UAR) Assistant Referee 2: Federico Solari (UAR) |
Namibia v Portugal Windhoek Saturday, 13 July, 2024 |
Referee: Adriaan Jacobs (SARU) Assistant Referee 1: Griffin Colby (SARU) Assistant Referee 2: Precious Pazani (ZRU) |
Tonga v Spain Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku’alofa Friday, 19 July, 2024 |
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Jordan Kaminski (RA) |
Australia v Georgia Allianz Stadium, Sydney Saturday, 20 July, 2024 |
Referee: James Doleman (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Paul Williams (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Angus Mabey (NZR) TMO: Glenn Newman (NZR) |
New Zealand v Fiji Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA Saturday, 20 July, 2024 |
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Damon Murphy (RA) Assistant Referee 2: Luke Rogan (USAR) TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU) |
South Africa v Portugal Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein Saturday, 20 July, 2024 |
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU) Assistant Referee 1: Craig Evans (WRU) Assistant Referee 2: Mike Adamson (SRU) TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU) |
Uruguay v Argentina Estadio Domingo Burgueno Miguel, Maldonado Saturday, 20 July, 2024 |
Referee: Luc Ramos (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Chris Busby (IRFU) Assistant Referee 2: Frank Méndez (Chile) TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU) |
Brazil v Hong Kong China Venue TBC, Brazil Saturday, 20 July, 2024 |
Referee: Pablo Deluca (UAR) Assistant Referee 1: Simon Larrubia (UAR) Assistant Referee 2: Federico Solari (UAR) |
Paraguay v Belgium Estadio Héroes de Curupayty, Luque Saturday, 20 July, 2024 |
Referee: Frank Méndez (Chile) Assistant Referee 1: Juan Sebastián Maio (UAR) Assistant Referee 2: Juan Martínez (UAR) |
Chile v Scotland Estadio Nacional, Santiago Saturday, 20 July, 2024 |
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Brace (IRFU) Assistant Referee 2: Gonzalo De Achaval (UAR) TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU) |
Japan v Italy Sapporo Dome, Sapporo Sunday, 21 July, 2024 |
Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Nic Berry (RA) Assistant Referee 2: Luke Pearce (RFU) TMO: Brett Cronan (RA) |
Uruguay v Scotland Estadio Charrua, Montevideo Saturday, 27 July, 2024 |
Referee: Damian Schneider (UAR) Assistant Referee 1: Mathieu Raynal (FFR) Assistant Referee 2: Luc Ramos (FFR) TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU) |
Brazil v Belgium Venue TBC, Brazil Saturday, 27 July, 2024 |
Referee: Tómas Bertazza (UAR) Assistant Referee 1: Juan López (UAR) Assistant Referee 2: Sergio Alvarenga (Paraguay) |
History to be made
Meanwhile, when South Africa meet Portugal for the first time in a Test in Bloemfontein in July, the match will be refereed by Hollie Davidson, the first woman to take charge of a Test involving the Springboks.