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Johannesburg - Australian referee Steve Walsh will handle two of the three Tests involving the Springboks and England in June, the IRB has announced.
Walsh was given the honour for the first and third Tests against England in Durban and Port Elizabeth respectively, with Alain Rolland taking charge of the second Test at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg.
The announcements were made by the IRB after selection of their new elite panel, which now has only two South African referees - Rugby World Cup final ref Craig Joubert and newcomer Jaco Peyper in its ranks.
Walsh will be assisted by Rolland and Irishman Simon McDowell in the first Test in Durban, with Scotsman Iain Ramage as the television referee.
In the second Test in Johannesburg, the same team will do duty, with Rolland and Walsh swopping whistles and flags on the day.
But in the third Test, Welshman Nigel Owens will be on the sideline along with Irishman John Lacey as the assistant referees. Italian Guilio de Santis will take charge as the television match official for the day.
South African referees were also given some plumb appointments, with Joubert taking charge of Australia vs Six Nations champs Wales on June 9 and 23 while he will run sideline for Chris Pollock on June 16.
Peyper has been given Australia’s match against Scotland on June 2, and then will fly to Fiji to take charge of the Fiji v Scotland match on June 16.
Marius Jonker is on Churchill Cup duty, taking charge of the Canada v USA derby and the USA v Georgia match at the same time, while Stuart Berry will be assistant referee in the Canada v Italy and Canada v Georgia games.
Christie du Preez has been given an assistant referee appointment for the Argentina v Italy Test, as well as the two Argentina v France matches.
Television referee Shaun Veldsman will be the TMO in the three Argentina June Tests as well.
