How much do Six Nations rugby referees get paid? It's a decent gig to get

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In the cutthroat world of rugby, referees hold all the cards—or rather, the whistles.

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Every call they make can tilt the balance of the game, and with such responsibility comes a fascinating question: how much do these decision-makers actually earn?

£400 per match – The rookies and rising stars

For those just breaking into the scene, like rookies and many female referees, match fees start at around £400 per game, adding up to an annual income of roughly £16,000. A modest sum for a high-pressure gig, but it's a solid foundation for a budding career.

£2.2k per match – The seasoned pros cash in

Climbing the ladder pays off big time. Experienced referees can command £1,200 for lower-tier fixtures and a staggering £2,200 per match for high-profile games. Their yearly earnings? A jaw-dropping £160,000.

£5k per match – Six Nations referees living the dream

And then there's the crème de la crème: 2024 Six Nations referees. According to reports, these whistleblowers will pocket a cool £5,000 per game. Not bad for a day's work on rugby's grandest stage!

SIX NATIONS POLL:

Referee's have been confirmed for the 2025 Six Nations

With 15 matches, 13 referees from seven unions, and a combined 406 Test matches of experience, the officiating team is ready for the northern hemisphere's biggest rugby stage.

Key Highlights

Angus Gardner (Australia) and Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) will referee their 50th Test matches, becoming the first from their nations to achieve this milestone.
Pierre Brousset (France) returns to action after injury to make his Six Nations refereeing debut.
Several debutants as Assistant Referees and Television Match Officials, including Sam Grove-White (Scotland), Mike Adamson (Scotland), and others.

Book VIP Six Nations Packages, Hospitality and Premium Experiences

Match-by-Match Breakdown

Round 1

France v Wales

Date: Friday, 31 January, 2025
Venue: Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
Assistants: Chris Busby (IRFU), Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)

Scotland v Italy

Date: Saturday, 1 February, 2025
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistants: Luke Pearce (RFU), Damian Schneider (UAR)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Ireland v England

Date: Saturday, 1 February, 2025
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (NZR)
Assistants: James Doleman (NZR), Hollie Davidson (SRU)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZR)

Round 2

Italy v Wales

Date: Saturday, 8 February, 2025
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistants: Paul Williams (NZR), Sam Grove-White (SRU)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

England v France

Date: Saturday, 8 February, 2025
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
Assistants: Andrea Piardi (FIR), Damian Schneider (UAR)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)

Scotland v Ireland

Date: Sunday, 9 February, 2025
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistants: Ben O'Keeffe (NZR), Pierre Brousset (FFR)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR)

Round 3

Wales v Ireland

Date: Saturday, 22 February, 2025
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU)
Assistants: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)

England v Scotland

Date: Saturday, 22 February, 2025
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Assistants: Andrew Brace (IRFU), Luc Ramos (FFR)
TMO: Tual Trainini (FFR)

Italy v France

Date: Sunday, 23 February, 2025
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistants: Chris Busby (IRFU), Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Round 4

Ireland v France

Date: Saturday, 8 March, 2025
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
Assistants: Matthew Carley (RFU), Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)

Scotland v Wales

Date: Saturday, 8 March, 2025
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistants: Nic Berry (RA), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

England v Italy

Date: Sunday, 9 March, 2025
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistants: Craig Evans (WRU), Luc Ramos (FFR)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Round 5

Italy v Ireland

Date: Saturday, 15 March, 2025
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistants: Angus Gardner (RA), Morné Ferreira (SARU)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)

Wales v England

Date: Saturday, 15 March, 2025
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
Assistants: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Hollie Davidson (SRU)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)

France v Scotland

Date: Saturday, 15 March, 2025
Venue: Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistants: Karl Dickson (RFU), Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)

Editor’s picks:

Rugby Quiz:

Rugby is a sport of grit, skill, and resilience, and it's the players who endure season after season, test after test, who embody these qualities best.

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