WELSH REFEREES IN DEMAND

Owen’s first international cap came when Portugal met Georgia in Lisbon in 2003 and since then he has controlled Japan v Ireland, Argentina v Samoa and Argentina v Uruguay. While he is in action in Italy, fellow Test referee Nigel Whitehouse will be on the touch line for Ireland v Australia on 19 November and England v South Africa a week later.

A third Welsh referee, Tim Hayes will be in charge of the final Rugby World Cup qualifier 2007 between the last two European teams on 25 November, while Hugh Watkins will be a touch judge in support of Owens in Italy and will also act as the TMO at two matches next month. Hayes is also in action as a TMO in November, while James Jones has been appointed to the IRB Sevens Series panel.

Owens will warm-up for his international outing with two key Heineken Cup appointments in the opening two rounds. He will be the man in the middle of the Pool 4 clash at Welford Road between Leicester Tigers and the reigning champions Munster on Sunday before moving on to France the following weekend for the Round 2 match between Toulouse and London Irish.

Tim Hayes will also be in action that weekend, controlling only his second Heineken Cup tie when Overmach Rugby host the French champions Biarritz Olympique.

“These games will be wonderful warm-ups for the three of them ahead of the international period in November,” explained the WRU manager of match officials Rob Yeman.

“Nigel Owens will be in charge of a game in Italy, Nigel Whitehouse will be the No 1 touch judge for two matches and Tim Hayes is set to referee one of the final Rugby World Cup qualifiers.”

Gareth Jenkins’ Welsh team will have three English officials for their four matches in the Invesco Perpetual Series next month. Wayne Barnes, Dave Pearson and Tony Spreadbury will be joined by New Zealander Steve Walsh at the Millennium Stadium for the four games.

For the 27-year-old Barnes it will be his first game in charge of an international in the northern hemisphere when Wales host the Pacific Islanders. He has controlled three Tests to date after making his international debut in June.

Pearson will win his sixth cap when he referees Wales v New Zealand. He was in the middle for the second Test in Argentina when Wales lost 45-27 in Buenos Aires.

As for Spreadbury, now 44, he first took charge of a Wales game at the old National Stadium when Australia were the visitors in 1992. The Wallabies won 23-6 that day. He will win his 27th Test cap when he controls the Friday night clash with 2007 Rugby World Cup Pool rivals Canada. It will be the sixth time he has taken charge of Wales.

Kiwi official Walsh will take charge of his fifth game at the Millennium Stadium, and his 23rd Test in total, when he referees the opening match in the Invesco Perpetual Series against Australia on Saturday, 4 November. Wales have won the last two games under his charge – against Scotland last season and England at the start of the 2005 Grand Slam campaign.

 INVESCO PERPETUAL SERIES REFEREES

4 November – Wales v Australia – Steve Walsh (NZ)

11 November – Wales v Pacific Islands – Wayne Barnes (Eng)

17 November – Wales v Canada – Tony Spreadbury (Eng)

25 November – Wales v New Zealand – Dave Pearson (Eng)