A total of 26 Emirates Match Officials (12 referees, seven assistant referees and seven Television Match Officials) representing nine nations with more than 630 Test appearances between them, will take charge of the 48 tournament matches. The selection has been made on merit.
Evans has been selected as an assistant referee while Whitehouse will figure in a second consecutive World Cup as a TMO having fulfilled the same role in last year’s Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.
WRU National performance manager for referees, Paul Adams, said he was delighted to see two of his officials selected.
“For the last two years a number of referees have been selected on a regular basis to AR and TMO at Test matches with a view to gaining experience and preparing them for those roles at the World Cup,” he explained.
“Both Craig Evans and Ben Whitehouse were part of that group and their performances in those roles were highly scrutinised. It is very pleasing to see that their consistently good performances have been rewarded by their selection.
“Craig and Ben are no strangers to World Cups. Ben was TMO at last year’s Women’s World Cup and had the distinction of being TMO for the final. Craig has also refereed with distinction at the Sevens World Cup and refereed several finals on the World Rugby sevens series.
“Craig and Ben are still young enough to be selected as referees for the World Cup in 2027 and the experience they will gain in this year’s World Cup should hold them in good stead. Their selection is just reward for all the hard work they have put in on and off the field.”
Whitehouse will follow in the footsteps of his father Nigel, who was an assistant referee and TMO at RWC 2003 while Evans is among three officials who officiated at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Chairman of the Match Officials Selection Committee Graham Mourie said: “I would like to extend my congratulations to the 26 match officials selected for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.
“Like the players, they have earned their place on merit and have worked incredibly hard, making many sacrifices to be in contention for selection.
“I would like to put on record our thanks to them and those who just missed out. It speaks volumes about this group that, like every great team, they have all encouraged each other along the way.
“These men and women are not only representing their nations, they are also representing the global officiating fraternity and truly are ‘everyone’s team’, playing their full part in enabling players to perform to their best at our pinnacle men’s event and we should all get behind them.”
