Kiwi to take charge of England v Australia
Kiwi referee Henry Perenara will take charge of the World Cup opener between England and Australia.
World Cup organisers have confirmed the appointments of the match officials for all of the group games, chosen by its Match Officials Appointments Panel, which consists of chairman David Waite, Daniel Anderson and Stuart Cummings.
The referee for England‘s game against Ireland will be Thierry Alibert, while Australian Ben Cummins will take charge of England and Fiji.
Alibert and Jose Pereira are the two French representatives, with Jamal Thompson joining Perenara from New Zealand.
Australia are represented by Cummins, Grant Atkins, Shayne Hayne and former Super League referee Ashley Klein.
A total of 14 England-based officials are named, and the referee, touch judges and video referee have all been announced as below.
Referee
Touch Judges
Video Ref
Australia
v
England
H Perenara
G Atkins & R Hicks
B Thaler
Wales
v
Italy
A Klein
J Thomson & J Periera
S Hayne
Papua New Guinea
v
France
B Cummins
J Child & C Sharrad
P Bentham
New Zealand
v
Samoa
R Silverwood
T Roby & J Cobb
T Alibert
Fiji
v
Ireland
P Bentham
M Craven & T Martin
H Perenara
Tonga
v
Scotland
S Hayne
W Turley & M Thomason
A Klein
USA
v
Cook Islands
B Thaler
G Stokes & C Leatherbarrow
R Silverwood
New Zealand
v
France
P Bentham
G Atkins & R Hicks
S Hayne
England
v
Ireland
T Alibert
J Thomson & J Periera
H Perenara
Australia
v
Fiji
R Silverwood
J Child & T Roby
B Thaler
Wales
v
USA
B Cummins
C Sharrad & J Cobb
P Bentham
Scotland
v
Italy
H Perenara
M Craven & T Martin
T Alibert
Papua New Guinea
v
Samoa
S Hayne
G Stokes & C Leatherbarrow
A Klein
Tonga
v
Cook Islands
A Klein
W Turley & M Thomason
R Silverwood
Scotland
v
USA
T Alibert
J Child & T Roby
H Perenara
New Zealand
v
Papua New Guinea
A Klein
J Periera & R Hicks
R Silverwood
England
v
Fiji
B Cummins
J Thomson & G Atkins
S Hayne
Australia
v
Ireland
P Bentham
J Cobb & G Stokes
T Alibert
Wales
v
Cook Islands
R Silverwood
C Leatherbarrow & W Turley
A Klein