RWC refs start preparations

Cape Town - The 2015 Rugby World Cup match officials are busy with their first preparatory meeting ahead of the showpiece event which runs from September 18-October 31.

According to the SA Rugby Referees website, the gathering is taking place in Arcachon Bay on the southwest coast of France.

All of the match officials have gathered there with Joel Jutge, World Rugby's manager of referees.

At the meeting are the 12 referees, seven assistant referees and four television match officials who will be involved in the World Cup matches in England and Wales.

The most experienced Test referee is Nigel Owens with 50 Tests, followed by Wayne Barnes (57) and South Africa’s Craig Joubert (55).

Rugby World Cup officials:

Referees (12): Wayne Barnes, JP Doyle (both England), Romain Poite, Jerome Garces, Pascal Gauzere (all France), George Clancy, Jonny Lacey (both Ireland), Glen Jackson, Chris Pollock of New Zealand), Craig Joubert, Jaco Peyper (both South Africa) and Nigel Owens (Wales).

Assistant referees (7): Federico Anselmi (Argentina), Stuart Berry (South Africa), Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Angus Gardner (Australia), Leighton Hodges (Wales), Marius Mitrea (Italy) and Mathieu Raynal (France).

Television match officials (4): George Ayoub (Australia), Graham Hughes (England), Ben Skeen (New Zealand) and Shaun Veldsman (South Africa).