Irish referee Lewis handed whistle for French game
Young had been due to control the October 18 tie, but has conceded defeat in his fitness battle. Lewis will also replace Young as a touch judge when France tackle Fiji in Brisbane on Saturday, and in the Scotland versus Japan fixture at Townsville a day later. Young hopes to be fit for the Pool D encounter between Wales and Italy in Canberra on October 25.
A former player, Lewis turned to refereeing after sustaining a career-threatening injury. However, his sporting prowess is not just confined to the realms of international rugby. Lewis is the third most capped player in the history of Irish cricket, following in the footsteps of his father Ian, capped 20 times in the code.
His debut for Ireland came in a match against West Indies in 1984. and he has since captained the international side more than 35 times. He captained Ireland in the 1994 ICC Trophy in Kenya, and has won both the Gold Award in the Benson & Hedges Cup and the Man of the Match award in the NatWest Trophy the only one to achieve this double for Ireland.
Meanwhile, two rising young Irish singers will be part of a 40-strong international choir when Rugby World Cup 2003 is formally launched in Sydney on Friday evening.
Alastair Davis, 25, from Dublin, and Colleen Shannon, 18, from Kerry, will be part of a lavish ceremony prior to the opening game between Australia and Argentina, comprising gifted young singers from each of the 20 competing nations.
After singing World in Union at the Olympic Stadium, the two Irish Youth Choir members will also attend all of Ireland's matches to sing Ireland's Call prior to each game. IRFU Marketing and Promotions manager Padraig Power is the driving force behind a successful commercial programme built around the Irish team in Australia. It featured a rousing rendition of Ireland's Call when the team attended a 600 sell-out corporate lunch in downtown Sydney last Thursday.
Along with IRFU honorary treasurer John Lyons, Power has also organised a celebrity golf tournament featuring members of the Irish team.
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