World Rugby have announced the list of match officials for this year's Rugby World Cup ©Getty Images

World Rugby has announced the 12 referees who will officiate matches at this year’s Rugby World Cup, due to take place in England from September 18 to October 31.

The sport’s governing body has also revealed the seven assistant referees and four television match officials for the tournament after a review of performances by the World Rugby Match Official Selection Committee.

Jérôme Garcès, Romain Poite and Pascal Gauzere represent the French contingent of officials, while New Zealand, Ireland, England and South Africa will all provide two referees each, and veteran Nigel Owens is the sole representative from Wales.

JP Doyle and Wayne Barnes are the English referees who will officiate on home soil, and they will be joined by New Zealanders Glen Jackson and Chris Pollock.

Jaco Peyper and Craig Joubert are the two from South Africa and Ireland will be represented by George Clancy and John Lacey.

The 12-strong panel have a vast amount of experience in rugby, with 361 tests between them, and seven of them officiated at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

The team of assistant referees will feature Argentina's Federico Anselmi, Stuart Berry of South Africa, New Zealand's Mike Fraser, Italian Marius Mitrea, Angus Gardner of Australia, Mathieu Raynal of France and Welshman Leighton Hodges.

Meanwhile, the four television match officials will comprise of Australian George Ayoub, Graham Hughes of England, Ben Skeen of New Zealand and South African Shaun Veldsman.
Veteran official Nigel Owens has been chosen as one of the 12 referees for the Rugby World Cup
Veteran official Nigel Owens has been chosen as one of the 12 referees for the Rugby World Cup ©Getty Images

“I want to congratulate all 12 referees, the seven assistant referees and four television match officials, who through very hard work and determination, have made it onto the panel for this year’s Rugby World Cup,” Official Selection Committee chairman John Jeffrey said.

“Since Rugby World Cup 2011, we have been focused on developing a strong panel that can preside over the 48 matches at this year’s tournament.

“The fact that seven of the referee panel were involved in the 2011 tournament points to the big-match experience that they hold.

“The focus for all these match officials at this point is on consistency and performing at the highest level.”

The appointments for the pool stages of the tournament, the first to be held on British shores since 1999, will be announced soon.