Ben Thaler to ref Third Test at Wigan

Ben Thaler has been appointed as the referee for Saturday’s deciding Third Test between England and New Zealand at Wigan.

Australian Gerard Sutton will be the video referee for the match, which will decide the winners of the Baskerville Shield.

The appointment was made by a three-man panel, consisting of chairman of the Match Officials Appointment Panel, Steve Ganson; New Zealand national referee development officer Luke Watts; and Thiery Alibert, head of match officials.

The panel reviewed the performances of both referees in the opening two games of the series, and were impressed with the standard on show from both Thaler and Sutton.