Rugby: Europeans flag away NZ whistlers

New Zealand referees Colin Hawke and Paddy O'Brien have failed to secure appointments to any of the Six Nations rugby championship matches next year.

Hawke and O'Brien were criticised during the recent World Cup for their sub-standard performances and poor decision-making.

O'Brien's handling of France's pool win over Fiji was marred by debatable decisions, including the non-awarding of a seemingly legitimate Fijian try while Hawke's decision to award a late Australian try in the Wallabies' quarter-final win over Wales after a knock-on angered the partisan Cardiff crowd.

However, the pair were included yesterday in the International Rugby Board's pool of international referees until August 31 next year and may be given other tests next season.

World Cup officials Paul Honiss and Steve Walsh Jun are the only New Zealanders selected to officiate in the Six Nations, which starts in February.

Walsh will control the England v Ireland game at Twickenham on February 5 and Honiss has been allocated the France v Ireland match in Paris on March 19. He will also patrol the touchline in the England v Wales match at Twickenham on March 4.

IRB referee panel: Derek Bevan (Wales), Brian Campsall (England), Andrew Cole (Australia), Robert Davies (Wales), Pablo Deluca (Argentina), Stuart Dickinson (Australia), Rob Dickson (Scotland), Joel Dume (France), Wayne Erickson (Australia), Jim Fleming (Scotland), Claudio Giacomel (Italy), Colin Hawke (New Zealand), Tappe Henning (South Africa), Paul Honiss (New Zealand), Ian Hyde-Lay (Canada), Shinichi Iwashita (Japan), Joel Jutge (France), Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa), Steve Lander (England), Mark Lawrence (South Africa), Alan Lewis (Ireland), Peter Marshall (Ireland), David McHugh (Ireland), Didier Mene (France), Giovanni Moradin (Italy), Ed Morrison (England), Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand), Iain Ramage (Scotland), Clayton Thomas (Wales), Steve Walsh Jun (New Zealand), Andrew Watson (South Africa), Chris White (England), Nigel Whitehouse (Wales), Scott Young (Australia).

- NZPA