Referee Luke Pearce is set to replace Pierre Brousset as the whistle man in control of the Six Nations Test between Ireland and Italy.
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This is due to an ongoing injury which has now ruled out referee Brousset out of action for the Dublin encounter.
It is the second Six Nations appointment the French referee will miss. He was originally named as an assistant referee for last Saturday’s round one clash between Italy and England in Rome.
A calf injury ruled him out of taking up that appointment and he was replaced on the touchline by Nika Amashukeli. That injury hasn’t healed sufficiently since then to enable Brousset to referee in the forthcoming Six Nations Test in Ireland.
A World Rugby statement read: “Owing to an ongoing calf injury, Pierre Brousset (France) has withdrawn from the Ireland vs Italy Guinness men’s Six Nations match in Dublin on Sunday.
“Brousset will be replaced as referee by Luke Pearce (England), who will be taking charge of his 50th Test. The rest of the match officials team remain as announced.”
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SIX NATIONS ROUND 2 FIXTURES:
— Scotland versus France (Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Saturday at 4:15pm)
— England versus Wales (Twickenham, London, Saturday at 6:45pm)
— Ireland versus Italy (Aviva, Dublin, Sunday at 5pm)
