The International Rugby Board has appointed referees and touch judges for the first 32 matches in the 1999 Rugby World Cup. Paddy O’Brien, of New Zealand, will be in charge of the opening game, in Cardiff, between host union Wales and Argentina at the new Millennium Stadium on Friday, October 1st. Tim Gresson, Chairman of the IRB’s Referees Committee, said the 16 referees picked on merit for RWC duties would each handle two games between October 1 and October 20. “That covers 32 of the 41 matches in the tournament and takes us through to the first two of the three quarter-final playoffs at Twickenham and Murrayfield. The assignments are both country and pool neutral for all 16 RWC referees. Further appointments including the Final, on November 6, will be announced later”, Gresson said. The 1999 RWC is being staged in Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland and France with four teams in each pool for a total of 20 finalists, four more than in 1987, 1991 and 1995. The appointments are: Wales v Argentina: Cardiff, October 1, Referee: Paddy O’Brien (New Zealand); Touch Judges: Jim Fleming (Scotland), Scott Young (Australia). Fiji v Namibia: Beziers, October 1, David McHugh (Ireland); Peter Marshall (Australia), Alan Lewis (Ireland). France V Canada: Beziers, October 2, Brian Campsall (England); Peter Marshall (Australia), Alan Lewis (Ireland). Spain v Uruguay: Galashiels, October 2, Chris White (England); Clayton Thomas (Wales), Didier Mene (France). England v Italy: Twickenham, October 2, Andre Watson (South Africa); Tappe Henning (South Africa), Ian Hyde-Lay (Canada). Ireland v USA: Dublin, October 2, Joel Dume (France); Ed Morrison (England), Steve Lander (England). Samoa v Japan: Wrexham, October 3, Andrew Cole (Australia); Jim Fleming (Scotland), Scott Young (Australia). New Zealand v Tonga: Bristol, October 3, Derek Bevan (Wales); Tappe Henning (South Africa), Ian Hyde-Lay (Canada). Scotland v South Africa: Murrayfield, October 3, Colin Hawke (New Zealand); Clayton Thomas (Wales), Didier Mene (France). Australia v Romania: Belfast, October 3, Paul Honnis (New Zealand); Ed Morrison (England), Steve Lander (England). Scotland v Uruguay: Murrayfield, October 8, Stuart Dickinson (Australia); Colin Hawke (New Zealand), Scott Young (Australia). France v Namibia: Bordeaux, October 8, Chris White (England); Iain Ramage (Scotland), Pablo Deluca (Argentina). Fiji v Canada: Bordeaux, October 9, Ed Morrison (England); Iain Ramage (Scotland), Pablo Deluca (Argentina). Wales v Japan: Cardiff, October 9, Joel Dume (France); Andre Watson (South Africa), Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa). England v New Zealand: Twickenham, October 9, Peter Marshall (Australia); Derek Bevan (Wales), Didier Mene (France). USA v Romania: Dublin, October 9, Jim Fleming (Scotland); Brian Campsall (England), Steve R. Walsh (New Zealand). Argentina v Samoa: Llanelli, October 10, Wayne Erickson (Australia); Paddy O’Brien (New Zealand), Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa). Ireland v Australia: Dublin, October 10, Clayton Thomas (Wales); Brian Campsall (England), Steve R. Walsh (New Zealand). South Africa v Spain: Murrayfield, October 10, Paul Honnis (New Zealand); Colin Hawke (New Zealand, Scott Young (Australia). Italy v Tonga: Leicester, October 10, David McHugh (Ireland); Derek Bevan (Wales), Didier Mene (France). New Zealand v Italy: Huddersfield, October 14, Jim Fleming (Scotland); Joel Dume (France), Alan Lewis (Ireland). Wales v Samoa: Cardiff, October 14, Ed Morrison (England); Steve Lander (England), Giovanni Morandin (Italy). Australia v USA: Limerick, October 14, Andre Watson (South Africa); Iain Ramage (Scotland), Shinichi Iwashita (Japan). Canada v Namibia: Toulouse, October 14, Andrew Cole (Australia); Colin Hawke (New Zealand), Tappe Henning (South Africa). England v Tonga: Twickenham, October 15, Wayne Erickson (Australia); Joel Dume (France), Alan Lewis (Ireland). South Africa v Uruguay: Glasgow, October 15, Peter Marshall (Australia); Derek Bevan (Wales), Steve R. Walsh (New Zealand). Ireland v Romania: Dublin, October 15, Brian Campsall (England); Iain Ramage (Scotland), Shinchi Iwashita (Japan). France v Fiji: Toulouse, October 16, Paddy O’Brien (New Zealand); Colin Hawke (New Zealand), Tappe Henning (South Africa). Scotland v Spain: Murrayfield, October 16, Clayton Thomas (Wales); Derek Bevan (Wales), Steve R. Walsh (New Zealand). Argentina v Japan: Cardiff, October 16, Stuart Dickinson (Australia); Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa), Giovanni Morandin (Italy). Runner-up Pool B v Runner-up Pool C (H): Twickenham, October 20, Derek Bevan (Wales); Touch Judges to be appointed. Runner-up Pool A v Runner-up Pool D (G) : Murrayfield ,October 20, Colin Hawke (New Zealand); Touch Judges to be appointed. ENDS. For further information please contact the IRB: Steve Griffiths, Referee Development Officer Peter McMullan, Manager Media & Promotions. Tel: +353 1 662 5444, Fax: +353 1 676 9334 IRB Website: www.irfb.com