Wayne Barnes
Eng, 28
Int debut:
The youngest referee, a cool eight years younger than England's No8, Lawrence Dallaglio. A barrister specialising in criminal law, Barnes became the youngest ever full-time Rugby Football Union referee at 25 and made an international debut in the Pacific Five Nations last year. Will oversee New Zealand's potentially points-filled meeting with Portugal.
Stuart Dickinson
Aus, 39
Int debut: Nov 98
In his third World Cup, he has been a referee since the age of 12, when he began to control games in Eastwood in his home city of Sydney. After Dickinson ran touch in New Zealand this summer, Bernard Laporte was quoted in French papers as saying that if Dickinson was in charge of any French matches in the World Cup, his side would not turn up.
Paul Honiss
NZ, 44
Int debut: Feb 97
Courted controversy this summer when he suggested on New Zealand radio that players should be encouraged to challenge referees' decisions. The International Rugby Board subsequently reprimanded the 44-year-old, who has been a Test referee for a decade and took charge of the opening game in the last World Cup, between Australia and Argentina.
Marius Jonker
SA, 39,
Int debut: Aug 05
South Africa's No2, behind Jonathan Kaplan, Jonker is a strict disciplinarian, as befits a former fly-half for -Pietermaritzburg Police. In his first World Cup but is already familiar to audiences in this part of the world after refereeing the last international at the old Lansdowne Road, between Ireland and Australia last year, and this year's Calcutta Cup.
Joel Jutge
Fr, 41
Int debut: Aug 99
France's leading referee is a former scrum-half for Colomiers but a knee injury at 24 cut short his playing career and he took up refereeing in 1991. Not fondly remembered by Munster supporters, after he failed to spot the Leicester flanker Neil Back's hand dipping into a vital scrum in the dying seconds of the 2002 Heineken Cup final in Cardiff.
Jonathan Kaplan
SA. 39
Int debut: May 96
Arguably the world's leading referee. A strict disciplinarian, he accepts no back-chat and has been on the international panel for 11 years. Both his brothers, David and Gary, played first-class rugby in South Africa. A native of Durban, Kaplan became known to British and Irish followers when he took charge of the Lions' second Test in Melbourne on 2001.
Alan Lewis
Eng, 43
Int debut: Sept 98
He may sound Welsh but don't be fooled: Lewis, a right-handed batsman and medium-pace bowler, played cricket 121 times for Ireland after making a duck on his debut against West Indies in 1984. This will be the second World Cup for the man who took charge of this year's Heineken Cup final, between Wasps and Leicester at Twickenham.
Nigel Owens
Wal, 36
Int debut: Feb 05
Not to be confused with Nigels Whitehouse and Williams, Owens will be the only Welsh referee on show. He will make his debut in Argentina's game against Georgia. Owens, who took charge of his first major international two years ago in Osaka, when Ireland played Japan, came out as gay two years ago and made it public in a newspaper interview last May.
Alain Rolland
Ire, 41
Int debut: Sep 01
Unique among the current crop of international referees in that he has played Test rugby. The son of a French father and Irish mother, Rolland won three caps for Ireland and played 40 times for Leinster at scrum-half. Gave up playing at the dawn of professionalism in 1995. His bilingual skills make him a favourite choice for France games.
Tony Spreadbury
Eng, 45
Int debut: Feb 90
England's most high-profile referee, the voluble but popular Westcountryman retires from Tests after the World Cup. A former paramedic, he made an instant impact in Sydney in 1990 when he sent off France's Abdel Benazzi for stamping. Has the honour of blowing the opening blast when France kick off the competition against Argentina.
Steve Walsh
NZ, 35
Int debut: Jun 98
Got on the wrong side of Clive Woodward in the last World Cup and was banned for three days for "inappropriate behaviour" in a row with -England's fitness coach, Dave -Reddin, during the match against Samoa. Began refereeing at 16 after a spinal injury ended his playing career. Will be in charge of Wales's crucial game against Australia.
Chris White
Eng, 44
Int debut: May 98
Once a primary school teacher, now England's most experienced Test referee, the Cheltenham man is in his third World Cup and four years ago took charge of the Australia v New Zealand semi-final. The former Swansea University centre, who has refereed three Heineken Cup finals, met his wife, Lynne, when she was playing at university.
