Same again in ref selection

In a statement on Friday, the International Rugby Board said that it was happy with the process of appointing and selecting referees. It would carry on the provinces. This would include appointments for the Lions' tour of New Zealand in June-July 2005.

IRB Referee Selection Committee Chairman, David Pickering said: "The IRB is satisfied that the existing selection process is sound It produces an excellent group of international referees and this has been based on two underlying criteria for match official appointments - merit and neutrality.

"All international match official appointments are made from the three IRB international panels depending on the status of the international match. The match officials are continually assessed on performance.

"It is anticipated that the usual selection criteria will therefore apply for the British & Irish Lions Test Matches in New Zealand later this year. The IRB Referee Selection Committee will be meeting in mid April to select the match officials for international matches for the June - July period."

For the three Tests on the Lions' tour referees outside of the five countries involved will be appointed. That means the referee will not come from New Zealand, England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

That eliminates several top referees - Paul Honiss, Paddy O'Brien, Steve Walsh and Kelvin Deaker of New Zealand, Chris White, Steve Lander and Tony Spreadbury of England, Alain Rolland, Alan Lewis and Donal Courtney of Ireland, Nigel Williams and Nigel Whitehouse of Wales.

The referees are most likely to come from Australia, France and South Africa. That means the men in contention are Joël Jutge of France, Jonathan Kaplan, Tappe Henning and Mark Lawrence of South Africa, and Andrew Cole, Scott Young and Stuart Dickinson of Australia.

When the Lions toured Australia last the referees were André Watson and Jonathan Kaplan of South Africa and Paddy O'Brien of New Zealand.