Ireland vs England referee fled bathroom after being confronted by angry fan
01/27/2025 01:20 AM
Week one of the Six Nations kicks off in style as England head to the Aviva Stadium to face Ireland on Saturday, 1st February.
Find your local Greene King and settle in for the 2025 Six Nations!
How to watch
The action will be broadcast live on ITV1 at 16:00, with online streaming available via ITVX.
Meet the referee: Ben O'Keeffe
New Zealand's Ben O'Keeffe will be in charge of the whistle. At just 34 years old, O'Keeffe has already built an impressive CV, becoming New Zealand's most-capped Test referee with 47 matches under his belt. Alongside refereeing, he's also a qualified ophthalmologist and co-founder of oDocs Eye Care, which develops technology to prevent blindness.
World Cup controversy
O'Keeffe has faced his share of challenges. During the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final between South Africa and France, his decisions came under fire, with Antoine Dupont criticising his performance after the Springboks’ dramatic 29-28 victory. The fallout even led to disturbing fan encounters, as detailed in RugbyPass's Whistleblowers documentary.
Six Nations poll:
The tougher moments
Reflecting on the aftermath, O'Keeffe said: "The week after the quarter-final was one of the toughest I've ever had in my life." He revealed that one fan even cornered him in a public restroom, threatening him. "Moments like that affected my mental wellbeing. I started questioning myself."
However, O'Keeffe focused on his processes and leaned on family and friends for support, enabling him to deliver in the high-pressure semi-final between England and South Africa.
A balanced perspective
Despite accusations of bias, O'Keeffe has been defended by peers, including South Africa's Jaco Peyper, who said: "Ben is a very smart and balanced individual. He just focuses on doing the best job for the game in front of him."
With so much on the line at the Aviva, all eyes will be on England, Ireland – and the man in the middle.
Guinness Men's Six Nations 2025 appointments
Round 1: 31 Jan-1 Feb
France v Wales
Referee: Paul Williams (NZ)
ARs: Chris Busby (Ire) Andrea Piardi (Ita) & Jordan Way (Aus)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Aus)
FPRO: Damon Murphy (Aus)
Scotland v Italy
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
ARs: Luke Pearce (Eng) & Damian Schneider (Arg)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
Ireland v England
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (NZ)
ARs: James Doleman (NZ) & Hollie Davidson (Sco)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZ)
FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZ)
Round 2: 8-9 Feb
Italy v Wales
Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng)
ARs: Paul Williams (NZ) & Sam Grove-White (Sco)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
FPRO: Glenn Newman (NZ)
England v France
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
ARs: Andrea Piardi (Ita) & Damian Schneider (Arg)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
FPRO: Marius Jonker (SA)
Scotland v Ireland
Referee: James Doleman (NZ)
ARs: Ben O'Keeffe (NZ) & Pierre Brousset (Fra)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZ)
FPRO: Andrew Jackson (Eng)
Round 3: 22-23 Feb
Wales v Ireland
Referee: Christophe Ridley (Eng)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
England v Scotland
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
ARs: Andrew Brace (Ire) & Luc Ramos (Fra)
TMO: Tual Trainini (Fra)
FPRO: Quinton Immelman (SA)
Italy v France
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
ARs: Chris Busby (Ire) Craig Evans (Wal) & Eoghan Cross (Ire)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)
FPRO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
Round 4: 8-9 March
Ireland v France
Referee: Angus Gardner (Aus)
ARs: Matthew Carley (Eng) & Christophe Ridley (Eng)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
FPRO: Andrew Jackson (Eng)
Scotland v Wales
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
ARs: Nic Berry (Aus) & Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
FPRO: Tual Trainini (Fra)
England v Italy
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ire)
ARs: Craig Evans (Wal) & Luc Ramos (Fra)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
FPRO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
Round 5: 15 March
Italy v Ireland
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
ARs: Angus Gardner (Aus) & Morné Ferreira (SA)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (Eng)
FPRO: Tual Trainini (Fra)
Wales v England
Referee: Nic Berry (Aus)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Hollie Davidson (Sco)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
France v Scotland
Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng)
ARs: Karl Dickson (Eng) & Eoghan Cross (Ire)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
FPRO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
EDITORS PICKS:
- Racing 92's worst player?! Owen Farrell given miserable rating
- STATEMENT: Ireland star ruled out of opener against England
- Nigel Owens makes bold statement regarding new law for the 2025 Six Nations
- Dan Biggar predicts 2025 Six Nations table, bad for Scotland
- Six Nations Shock: Coach Sacked Just Days Before Kick-Off
You'll have to be red-hot to get 15/15 in this 2010s Six Nations quiz
Think you know the stars of the Six Nations from the 2010s? It's time to put your knowledge to the test with this thrilling multiple-choice quiz!
The Six Nations Championship, Europe's premier rugby tournament, has delivered unforgettable moments and showcased some of the game's greatest players.
From stunning tries to epic battles, the 2010s were packed with rugby brilliance.
Can you name the players who lit up the tournament during this golden decade? You'll need to be on top form to get 15/15—are you up for the challenge? Let's kick off!
Join the RUCK's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
The post Ireland vs England referee fled bathroom after being confronted by angry fan appeared first on Ruck.
