Ten referees were selected to officiate across the 15 matches. The appointed are:
Saturday 4/2/12 14:30 – France v Italy – Stade de France – N Owens, A Small, J Lacey, G Hughes
Saturday 4/2/12 17:00 – Scotland v England – Murrayfield – G Clancy, R Poite, L Hodges, N Whitehouse
Sunday 5/2/12 15:00 – Ireland v Wales – Aviva Stadium – W Barnes, N Pearson, S Terheege, G Warren
Saturday 11/2/12 16:00 – Italy v England – Stadio Olimpico – J Garces, A Rolland, N Paterson, T Redmond
Saturday 11/2/12 20:00 – France v Ireland – Stade de France – N Pearson, W Barnes, A Small, G Warren
Sunday 12/2/12 15:00 – Wales v Scotland – Millennium Stadium – R Poite, P Fitzgibbon, S McDowell, G De Santis
Saturday 25/2/12 13:30 – Ireland v Italy – Aviva Stadium – C Joubert, N Owens, M Changleng, N Whitehouse
Saturday 25/2/12 16:00 – England v Wales – Twickenham – S Walsh, Fitzgibbon, P Gauzere, I Ramage
Sunday 26/2/12 15:00 – Scotland v France – Murrayfield – W Barnes, A Rolland, McDowell, G Warren
Saturday 10/3/12 14:30 – Wales v Italy – Millennium Stadium – G Clancy Fitzgibbon, P Allan, G Hughes
Saturday 10/3/12 17:00 – Ireland v Scotland – Aviva Stadium – C Pollock, R Poite, G Garner, G De Santis
Sunday 11/3/12 15:00 – France v England – Stade de France – A Rolland, N Owens, J Lacey, J Yuille
Saturday 17/3/12 12:30 – Italy v Scotland – Stadio Olimpico – A Rolland, G Clancy, P Gauzere, T Redmond
Saturday 17/3/12 14:45 – Wales v France – Millennium Stadium – C Joubert, W Barnes, S Terheege, I Ramage,
Saturday 17/3/12 17:00 – England v Ireland – Twickenham – N Owens, J Garces, N Paterson, Yuille
The five areas referees have been told to concentrate on are the same as was the case before the Rugby World Cup 2011, namely:
1. TACKLE. All areas of the tackle law must be strictly applied. The tackler and assistant tackler must release the tackled player and regain their feet before trying to claim the ball and the tackled player must release immediately he has been tackled. Referees have been reminded to be strict when it comes to how both teams’ players enter the breakdown.
2. SCRUM. At the scrum engagement there must be four clear calls and four corresponding actions (crouch, touch, pause, engage). The binding of the props must be as per law and the front rows must be square upon engagement. Back rows must remain bound until the scrum is completed.
3. MAUL. If the maul is formed and no cause of collapse is recognised then it should be a turnover if the ball is not immediately available to be played. It is important to police any obstruction by the team in possession.
4. OFFSIDE. There is to be strict refereeing of offside lines at the breakdown with special attention given to offsides close to the breakdown. There is to be strict refereeing of offsides from all kicks, thus allowing teams to receive the space they are entitled to in Law.
5. FOUL PLAY. Strict application of the Law by referees will continue to ensure that player welfare is the paramount concern.