World Rugby has revealed the referees for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour of Australia.
Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Andrea Piardi (Italy) and Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) will each take charge of one Lions test in Australia.
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O’Keeffe will referee the opening Test along with the tour match against the Western Force on June 28.
Italian Piardi heads into the middle for the second Test and will also officiate the AU/NZ Invitational game in Adelaide.
Amashukeli will round out the Tests in Sydney as well as the First Nations and Pasifika XV match in Melbourne.
It is the first time an Italian and a Georgian will referee a British and Irish Lions, with the trio sharing referee and assistant referee duties throughout the three Tests and invitational games.
With no Australian referees eligible to take the contests, Nic Berry will take the opening test between New Zealand and France in Dunedin.
It will be Berry’s 40th Test in charge at international level, also serving as assistant referee for the second match.
In further Australian appointments, Angus Gardner will referee Argentina v England on July 5, with Jordan Way appointed to Samoa v Scotland two weeks later.
“With new global competitions to commence in 2026, our long-term focus continues to be on ensuring we have a widened pool of top level international match officials on the road to Rugby World Cups in the USA, and this selection represents that strategic ambition,” Chair of the Emirates World Rugby Match Officials Selection Committee, Su Carty said.
“I would like to congratulate and thank the match officials selected who earn their places on merit. I know how hard this group strives for excellence on and off the field, whether that be via rigorous performance review, fitness or culture, and we look forward to seeing them in action.”
“Our collective focus continues to be on arriving at Australia 2027 with a team performing to its fullest potential, facilitating an exciting game for players and fans,” World Rugby High Performance 15s Match Officials Manager, Joël Jutge added.
“The foundations are in place with the ‘critical few’, co-created and agreed with coaches in 2024 as performance indicators around speed, space, safety, scrum and lineout. We are collectively focused on consistent application and the 2025 July tests represent another milestone on the road to Australia.”
Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Andrea Piardi (FIR)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (NZR), James Doleman (NZR)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FPRO: Glenn Newman (NZR)
Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (NZR), Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZR)
FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
Assistant Referees: James Doleman (NZR), Angus Mabey (NZR)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR)
FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (NZR), Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Pierre Brousset (FFR)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
FPRO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Andrea Piardi (FIR)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR), Andrea Piardi (FIR)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZR)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
FPRO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR), Andrea Piardi (FIR)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZR)
