Romain Poite will take charge of the final Test between New Zealand and the Lions in July, an appointment the tourists hope will be an omen. The Frenchman refereed the third and deciding match in Australia four years ago which Warren Gatland’s men won decisively 41‑16 to clinch the series.

Two of the Tests in 2013 were controlled by officials from the southern hemisphere but this summer two will have a Frenchman holding the whistle, as was the case in Australia in 1989 when René Hourquet was given the final two Tests which the Lions won to take the series 2-1.

Jérôme Garcès, who refereed two of England’s matches in this year’s Six Nations, has been given the second Test with South Africa’s Jaco Peyper, who Ireland felt allowed New Zealand to get away with aggressive tactics when the two sides met in Dublin last November, appointed for the first match of what is expected to be a hard-fought series.

All 10 matches on the Lions tour will be controlled by a referee from World Rugby’s Test panel with Peyper, Garcès and Poite also taking charge of a warm-up game. The New Zealander Gatland will announce his squad on 19 April and the claims for a place of the Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg were enhanced on Thursday when he was voted the 2017 Player of the Six Nations.

Hogg, who also collected the award last year, received nearly 25% of the public vote and was well ahead of the runner-up, the Ireland back-row CJ Stander, with the France No8 Louis Picamoles finishing third. The highest-placed player from the champions England was the second-row Joe Launchbury, who was fourth.

Players return to club duty this weekend after the finish of the Six Nations but Gloucester will be without the Wales No8 Ross Moriarty and the Scotland centre Matt Scott when they travel to the bottom club Bristol on Friday in their first match since Laurie Fisher resigned as head coach at the start of the month and was replaced on an interim basis by Jonny Bell.

Gloucester have endured another inconsistent season, but Bristol’s need for points is greater. With five rounds of matches to go they trail Worcester by seven points and their next three games after Friday night are against the top three, at Exeter and Saracens and at home to Wasps.

“A positive performance on Friday in front of our home supporters can be the catalyst for us to push forward,” said Bristol’s acting head coach, Mark Tainton, who has recalled Billy Searle at outside-half with Gavin Henson nursing a toe injury. “We know what is expected of us and we are well prepared and focused.”