Springboks Get Andrea Piardi Again as World Rugby Names November Referees
- Andrea Piardi will referee the Springboks' clash against France after his controversial involvement in South Africa's 42-38 defeat to Australia
- Eoghan Cross and Christophe Ridley will officiate South Africa's other two Nations Championship Tests in November
- South African officials Morné Ferreira and Marius van der Westhuizen have also received appointments for the November internationals
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World Rugby has confirmed the referees for the Springboks' November Nations Championship Tests, with Italian official Andrea Piardi handed another high-profile assignment involving South Africa.
Piardi will take charge when the world champions face France at the Stade de France on Friday, 13 November 2026. His appointment comes weeks after he refereed Australia's dramatic 42-38 victory over the Springboks in Perth on 27 September.
The Test against the Wallabies attracted attention after four Australian players received yellow cards during a chaotic finish, with the home side eventually winning despite being reduced to 11 players.
Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper subsequently questioned whether Piardi should continue refereeing Australia's matches. His comments were reported by Planet Rugby on 30 September.
According to World Rugby's official appointments, Piardi will also serve as an assistant referee for Scotland's encounter against New Zealand in Edinburgh on Saturday, 7 November.
Springboks' November referees confirmed
South Africa will face Italy, France and Ireland during the European leg of the 2026 Nations Championship, with three different referees appointed for the Tests.
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Ireland's Eoghan Cross will be in charge of the opening match against Italy at Allianz Stadium in Turin on Saturday, 7 November.
Piardi will then referee the France encounter six days later, before England's Christophe Ridley takes charge of the final scheduled Test against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday, 21 November.
The appointments are as follows:
Italy vs South Africa: Eoghan Cross (Ireland), 7 November.
France vs South Africa: Andrea Piardi (Italy), 13 November.
Ireland vs South Africa: Christophe Ridley (England), 21 November.
Ridley will oversee the Dublin encounter as the Springboks continue their campaign in the new international competition, which brings together leading teams from the northern and southern hemispheres.
World Rugby has confirmed that appointments for the Nations Championship Finals Weekend, scheduled for 27 to 29 November at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, will be announced after the Northern Hemisphere Series concludes.
South African officials also selected for November Tests
Two South African officials have been included in World Rugby's appointments for the November internationals.
Morné Ferreira has been appointed as an assistant referee for Ireland's match against Argentina on 6 November and Italy's encounter against Argentina on 14 November.
Marius van der Westhuizen will serve as the foul play review officer for Scotland's match against New Zealand on 7 November. He is also appointed as television match official for England's encounters against Japan and New Zealand later in the series.
World Rugby announced the appointments on Thursday, 22 October, confirming that 41 officials from 12 nations will be involved across the November Nations Championship matches.
The tournament's Northern Hemisphere Series will run from 6 to 21 November, before the leading teams compete in the Finals Weekend in London.
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Source: Briefly News
