Match officials selected for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in South Africa
World Rugby has announced the selection of match officials for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022, which takes place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 9-11 September.
Eighteen match officials representing 13 countries have been selected for the showpiece event, 10 for the men’s competition at Cape Town Stadium and eight for the women’s.
Men’s panel
Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Adam Leal (England)
Jérémy Rozier (France)
Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
Reuben Keane (Australia)
Jordan Way (Australia)
Nick Hogan (New Zealand)
AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
Tevita Rokovereni (Fiji)
Francisco González (Uruguay)
Women’s panel
Ben Breakspear (Wales)
Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Eki Fanlo (Spain)
Lauren Jenner (New Zealand)
Cisco Lopez (USA)
Tyler Miller (Australia)
Selica Winiata (New Zealand)
Julianne Zussman (Canada)
View profiles of the match officials in the World Rugby Media Zone >>
France’s Jérémy Rozier and Scotland’s Hollie Davidson are the only officials to have refereed at a previous Rugby World Cup Sevens, having been involved at the 2018 edition in San Francisco.
However, Selica Winiata has played on the RWC Sevens stage for New Zealand, collecting a silver medal from the inaugural women’s tournament in Dubai in 2009 and a gold four years later in Moscow.
Eight of the match officials were on the panels for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Jordan Way, Tevita Rokovereni, Francisco González, Davidson, Lauren Jenner, Tyler Miller, Winiata and Julianne Zussman.
Ben Breakspear and Cisco Lopez are members of the men’s panel for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series but have been selected for the women’s competition in South Africa.
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “I would like to congratulate the panel on their selection for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town. The fact that 13 nations are represented speaks volumes about the global appeal of the sport.
“Cape Town promises to be an exceptional spectacle, a showcase of rugby sevens at its best and a celebration of friendship and togetherness following the pandemic.”
World Rugby High Performance Sevens Referee Manager Paddy O’Brien added: “Just like a player, a referee strives to be selected for the big events and the 18 selected for RWC Sevens 2022 are no exception. Apart from the Olympics, RWC Sevens is the biggest sevens tournament and this group of referees are excited and fully prepared for the showpiece event of our sport.”
