The landscape of international rugby officiating for the 2025 Rugby Championship is beginning to take shape with the announcement of referee appointments. Set to commence on August 16th, the tournament will see match officials from various nations oversee the clashes between the Southern Hemisphere`s powerhouses.
Notably, Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli has been assigned a significant role, receiving appointments for three matches involving the reigning world champions, South Africa. This highlights his growing stature within the global officiating ranks.
Amashukeli`s schedule includes one high-profile appointment as the central referee. He will take the whistle for the highly anticipated Test match between New Zealand and South Africa on September 13th. Officiating a fixture of this magnitude underscores the trust placed in his abilities by World Rugby.
In addition to his main refereeing duty, Amashukeli will also serve as an assistant referee for two other crucial encounters. He is appointed as an assistant for the earlier match between New Zealand and South Africa on September 6th, as well as the fixture between Argentina and South Africa on October 4th.
The appointments for the 2025 tournament also reveal that no South African referees have been named as primary officials for any of the matches, a recurring pattern in recent championships. The opening match between the Springboks and the Wallabies will be managed by experienced New Zealander Ben O`Keeffe.
Nika Amashukeli`s inclusion in multiple key matches involving top-tier nations like South Africa and New Zealand is a testament to his consistent performance and development as a leading international referee. His responsibilities in the 2025 Rugby Championship will be closely watched as teams battle for supremacy.
