World Rugby has announced the match officials for the 2026 Nations Championship Northern Hemisphere Series, with 16 referees from nine nations appointed to oversee 18 matches scheduled across Europe from November 6 to 21.

The new biennial international tournament brings together teams from the northern and southern hemispheres, with fixtures played across the July and November international windows before culminating in a Finals weekend at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham.

English referee Luke Pearce will officiate the opening match of the Northern Hemisphere Series between Ireland and Argentina at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on November 6.

Australian referee Angus Gardner will also reach a significant career milestone when he takes charge of Ireland against Fiji at the same venue on November 14, marking his 60th Test as a referee.

Gardner will become the third member of the current men’s refereeing panel to reach the milestone, following New Zealand’s Ben O’Keeffe, who is scheduled to officiate Spain against Uruguay in the World Rugby Nations Cup on November 7.

Irish referee Andrew Brace and French official Pierre Brousset have each been appointed to oversee two matches during the series.

World Rugby confirmed that 41 match officials from 12 nations will be involved across the tournament. Appointments for the Finals weekend, scheduled for November 27–29 at Allianz Stadium, will be announced on November 23 after the final rankings are determined.

The governing body will also support its social impact partner, ChildFund Rugby, through visibility on match officials’ jerseys throughout the Nations Championship.

The series forms part of the competition’s inaugural season, bringing leading international sides together in a new format designed to strengthen competition between northern and southern hemisphere rugby nations.