World Rugby U20 Championship 2025 Match Officials Announced

rugbyasia247 Posted On May 30, 2025

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World Rugby U20 Championship 2025 Match Officials Announced

The World Rugby U20 Championship 2025 takes place in Italy from 29 June to 19 July, and the Emirates Match Official panel for the tournament has been announced, which includes representation from the JRFU and HKCR.

Feature Photo Credit HKCR – Morgan White

World Rugby Talent ID Manager and Tournament Referee Manager Johnny Lacey said: “The selection of this panel highlights the referees that are coming through our pathway system. We have been working closely with our unions and regions to increase the number of match officials in our pathway into World Rugby competitions.

We are already starting to see the benefits with our talent identification programme providing four referees for this tournament and we are excited to see what the future holds for the officials involved in our men’s and women’s pathways.”

Ten referees from 10 different unions have been selected and 7 of the 10 will be making their World Rugby U20 Championship debuts*; Tomas Bertazza (Argentina), Ben Breakspear (Wales), Griffin Colby (South Africa), Katsuki Furuse (Japan)*, Peter Martin (Ireland), Marcus Playle (New Zealand), Jérémy Rozier (France), Filippo Russo (Italy), Lex Weiner (USA) and Morgan White (Hong Kong China)*.

Both Katsuki Furuse (Japan) and Morgan White (Hong Kong China) were involved in the World Rugby U20 Trophy 2024 in Scotland.

There will also be six Italian officials who will serve as assistant referees during the tournament, and 5 Television Match Officials complete the panel; Leo Colgan (Ireland), Graham Cooper (Australia), Aled Griffiths (Wales), Quinton Immelman (South Africa) and Dan Jones (RFU).

Both Colgan and Immelman were also selected for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in England.