World Rugby has confirmed match official appointments for the November leg of the 2026 Nations Championship, with Andrea Piardi returning to a Springbok match despite the controversy surrounding his handling of the Wallabies-Boks clash in September.
Piardi, who drew criticism from Michael Hooper after South Africa's 42-38 win over Australia — during which the Wallabies were reduced to 11 men through four rapid sin-binnings — will referee France v South Africa at the Stade de France in week two. He serves as an assistant referee in week one, running the touchline at Murrayfield for Scotland v New Zealand.
The Springboks' week one fixture, Italy v South Africa in Turin, goes to Ireland's Eoghan Cross, with James Doleman and Sam Grove-White as his assistants and Brett Cronan as TMO.
In week three, the Boks face Ireland at the Aviva Stadium. Last November Matthew Carley refereed that fixture and yellow-carded four Irishmen; this time Christophe Ridley takes charge, with Piardi among his assistants.
Elsewhere in the November programme, Luke Pearce opens proceedings with Ireland v Argentina in Dublin, Andrew Brace takes Scotland v New Zealand at Murrayfield, and Pierre Brousset handles England v Australia in week one before moving to Wales v New Zealand in week two. Nic Berry referees England v All Blacks at Twickenham in week two.