New Zealand's Paddy O'Brien has been given the boot as head of the IRB referees.
The IRB is set to announce on Monday O'Brien will be appointed head of the IRB Sevens series.
The BBC's Alistair Eayken says there will be a big clear out at the IRB with New Zealand's Bryce Lawrence, and England's Dave Pearson and Wayne Barnes to be demoted from the tier one panel.