Ireland's top two officials given nod for next season

Six Nations news: The International Board (IRB) has released the officiating appointments for next season's Six Nations Championship, confirming that Ireland's top two referees, Alain Rolland who is due to take charge of the World Cup final and Alan Lewis, will preside over a couple of matches.

Rolland will be in the middle for Italy's clash with England, while Lewis has also been handed an Italian game in their visit to the Stade de France.

Arguably the plum refereeing assignment goes to New Zealander Steve Walsh who takes charge of France's clash with England in Paris, a repeat of next weekend's World Cup semi-final.

From an Irish team context, Eddie O'Sullivan's charges enjoy something of a eclectic mix of nationalities. England's Chris White and Wayne Barnes will officiate in the matches against Italy and Wales respectively. and Frenchman Christophe Berdos takes charge of Ireland's other home game, against Scotland.

Welshman Nigel Owens will referee Ireland's visit to the Stade de France while Australian Stuart Dickinson will be the man with the whistle when the Irish travel to Twickenham.

Meanwhile, the Six Nations championship will be broadcast on the BBC up to and including the 2013 tournament, following a new deal announced yesteday by BBC Sport and the Six Nations Committee.

The new deal extends BBC Sport's current contract, as exclusive broadcaster of the Six Nations, which runs until 2009 and covers TV, radio and online.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd, 2008

Ireland v Italy, Croke Park (2.0): Referee: C White; Touch judges: W Barnes, P Allan; Television Match official: T Hayes.

England v Wales, Twickenham (4.30): Ref: C Joubert; TJs: A Lewis, R Poite; TMO: S McDowell.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd

Scotland v France, Murrayfield (3.0): Ref: P Honiss; TJs: B Lawrence, T Hirabayashi; TMO: R Debney.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9th

Wales v Scotland, Millennium stadium (2.0): Ref: B Lawrence; TJs: P Honiss, C Berdos; TMO: C Damasco.

France v Ireland, Stade de France (4.0): Ref: N Owens; TJs: C White, T Hayes; TMO: H Watkins.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10th

Italy v England, Stadio Flaminio (2.30): Ref: A Rolland. TJs: J Jutge, T Hirabayashi. TMO: S McDowell.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23rd

Wales v Italy, Millennium Stadium (3.0): Ref: D Pearson; TJs: W Barnes, M Changleng; TMO: R Debney.

Ireland v Scotland, Croke Park (5.0): Ref: C Berdos; TJs: J Jutge, H Watkins; TMO: R Poite.

France v England, Stade de France (8.0): Ref: S Walsh; TJs: A Rolland, C Damasco; TMO: G Clancy.

SATURDAY, MARCH 8th

Ireland v Wales, Croke Park (1.15): Ref: W Barnes; TJs: C Berdos, P Allan; TMO: M Changleng.

Scotland v England, Murrayfield (3.15): Ref: J Kaplan; TJs: M Jonker, C Damasco; TMO: T Hayes.

SUNDAY, MARCH 9th

France v Italy, Stade de France (3.0): Ref: A Lewis; TJs: S Dickinson, F Cuesta; TMO: D Pearson.

SATURDAY, MARCH 15th

Italy v Scotland, Stadio Flaminio (1.0): Ref: J Jutge; TJs: C White, S McDowell; TMO: R Poite.

England v Ireland, Twickenham (3.0): Ref: S Dickinson; TJs: N Owens, T Hayes; TMO: H Watkins.

Wales v France, Millennium stadium (5.0): Ref: M Jonker; TJs: J Kaplan, F Cuesta; TMO: C Damasco.