Jerome Garces to take charge of World Cup final

World Rugby have confirmed French referee Jerome Garces will officiate the World Cup final between England and South Africa.

Garces, 46, will become the first Frenchman to take charge of a World Cup final and beats Nigel Owens and Wayne Barnes to the privilege.

“I am honoured and delighted to be appointed to referee the Rugby World Cup 2019 final,” said Garces.

“It is a dream as a referee, but this is a team sport, and as a team of four, we will be out there to do the best for the teams, the fans, the sport, but also the entire match officials team, selectors and support team, who have worked so hard over the last four years, culminating in Rugby World Cup 2019.”

Garces will be assisted by countryman Romain Poite, Ben O’Keefe (New Zealand), and TMO Ben Skeen (New Zealand) at the Yokohama Stadium.

It will be Garces’ 11th World Cup match and the 55th of his experienced career in Test rugby.

As for Barnes, he will take the whistle for the third-fourth play-off match between New Zealand and Wales on Friday.