Kiwi Walsh to ref first Croker rugby match

NEW ZEALANDER Steve Walsh will referee the first rugby Test match to be played at Croke Park.

Ireland’s temporary home while Lansdowne Road is redeveloped hosts 2007 Six Nations games against France on February 11 and England just under a fortnight later.

Walsh has been appointed to the France Test, while Frenchman Joel Jutge takes charge of England’s visit.

Four referees — South African pair Marius Jonker and Craig Joubert, together with England’s Wayne Barnes and Welshman Nigel Owens — have gained their first Six Nations appointments.

THE MEN IN CHARGE

February 3: Italy v France (Wayne Barnes,England); England v Scotland (Marius Jonker, South Africa).

February 4: Wales v Ireland (Kelvin Deaker, New Zealand).

February 10: England v Italy (Nigel Owens, Wales); Scotland v Wales (Alan Lewis, Ireland).

February 11: Ireland v France (Steve Walsh,New Zealand).

February 24: Scotland v Italy (Donal Courtney, Ireland); Ireland v England (Joel Jutge, France); France v Wales (Tony Spreadbury, England).

March 10: Scotland v Ireland (Dave Pearson, England); Italy v Wales (Chris White, England)

March 11: England v France (Jonathan Kaplan, South Africa).

March 17: Italy v Ireland (Jonathan Kaplan, South Africa); France v Scotland (Craig Joubert, South Africa); Wales v England (Alain Rolland,Ireland).