Wales vs Ireland referee had a heated exchange with Gary Neville
Yesterday at 03:08 PM
Englishman Christophe Ridley will referee the Wales v Ireland clash – but there’s more to him than just the whistle. Here’s everything you need to know about the man in the middle.
Find your local Greene King andsettle in for the 2025 Six Nations!
Born in Paris, Built for Rugby
Ridley was born in Paris in 1993, but his refereeing journey began after studying at the University of Gloucestershire. Since turning professional in 2016, he's become a familiar face in the Premiership, Champions Cup, and Challenge Cup. He made his URC debut in 2022, handling the fierce Munster v Leinster showdown.
World Cup & Six Nations Spotlight
Ridley hit the global stage as an assistant referee at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, featuring in the opening game between France and New Zealand and key fixtures including Wales v Australia and the epic Ireland v All Blacks quarter-final.
He made his Six Nations debut this year, overseeing France’s dramatic draw with Italy – and it wasn't without fireworks.
When the Ball Falls – And the Ref Misses It
Ridley's debut stirred controversy after a missed infringement could have changed Six Nations history. With Italy tied 13-13 against France, Paolo Garbisi's last-minute penalty struck the post. But video replays showed French players encroaching, a penalty offence that should've given Italy a second shot – but Ridley and his team missed it.
Taking on Gary Neville – And Winning
Ridley isn't shy on social media either. During the 2022 World Cup, he clapped back at Gary Neville after the pundit branded referee Wilton Sampaio a “joke.” Ridley fired back: “The ripple effect of this tweet impacts refereeing standards in the long term.”
Round 3 Six Nations Ref Watch
Italy v France – Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
Wales v Ireland – Referee: Christophe Ridley (Eng)
England v Scotland – Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
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UPDATED: Foreign-born players in the 2025 Six Nations
The following breakdown, based on data compiled by Americas Rugby News, examines the composition of various national teams, shedding light on the number of foreign-born players and how they qualify for their respective squads.
This international blend underlines rugby's global nature, with some nations leaning on overseas-born talent more than others. Ahead of round two, we’ve broken down the squads – and Scotland lead the way by a mile when it comes to foreign-born players.
ENGLAND
HOMEGROWN PLAYERS: 39/41 (95.2%)
FOREIGN-BORN PLAYERS: 3/41 (7.3%)
- Bevan Rodd (Scotland) – Parent
- Chandler Cunningham-South (England) – Born in England
- Harry Randall (England) – Born in England
- Marcus Smith (Philippines) – Parent
- Tom Roebuck (Scotland) – Parent
FRANCE
HOMEGROWN PLAYERS: 39/42 (92.8%)
FOREIGN-BORN PLAYERS: 6/42 (14.2%)
- Dany Priso (Cameroon) – Residency (2008)
- Uini Atonio (New Zealand) – Residency (2014)
- Giorgi Beria (Georgia) – Residency (2002)
- Joshua Brennan (Ireland) – Residency (2005)
- Emmanuel Meafou (New Zealand) – Residency (2023)
- Émilien Gailleton (England) – Parent
IRELAND
HOMEGROWN PLAYERS: 30/36 (83.3%)
FOREIGN-BORN PLAYERS: 9/36 (25%)
- Rob Herring (South Africa) – Grandparent
- Finlay Bealham (Australia) – Grandparent
- Cormac Izuchukwu (England) – Parent
- Joe McCarthy (USA) – Parent
- Jamison Ratu Gibson-Park (New Zealand) – Residency (2020)
- Bundee Aki (New Zealand) – Residency (2017)
- Ciarán Frawley (Australia) – Parent
- Mack Hansen (Australia) – Parent
- James Lowe (New Zealand) – Residency (2020)
CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO
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