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Nic Berry has been named as the referee for the bronze final between England rugby and Argentina rugby at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.<\/p>\n
The Australian will be in charge of the third\/fourth place play-off taking place at the Stade de France on Friday evening, with Andrew Brace of Ireland and Georgia\u2019s Nika Amashukeli as his assistant referees on the touchlines. Ben Whitehouse (Wales) will be the TMO for the appetiser to Saturday\u2019s final between the Springboks and All Blacks.<\/p>\n
Berry made his tournament debut four years ago in Japan, and returned to the officiating panel for the tournament in France.<\/p>\n
A former professional player, Berry impressed as a scrum half in Super Rugby, the French Top 14 and England\u2019s Premiership.<\/p>\n
His career was curtailed at the start of the 2011\/12 season, however, on medical advice after suffering a series of concussions.<\/p>\n
Soon after retirement, Berry picked up the whistle and was fast-tracked up through the Australian officiating system, making a debut in Super Rugby in April 2016.<\/p>\n
An international debut followed soon after, before Berry earned a debut World Cup selection to the team of referees heading out to Japan in 2019 alongside compatriot Angus Gardner.<\/p>\n
The pair return as Australia\u2019s on-pitch officiating representation at this year\u2019s tournament.<\/p>\n
Berry is perhaps best known, though, for his involvement in the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa.<\/p>\n
After taking charge of the first Test in Cape Town, a video made by Rassie Erasmus, the Springboks\u2019 director of rugby, criticising the Australian\u2019s decision-making throughout the game was leaked.<\/p>\n
Erasmus was subsequently found guilty of threatening Berry, with the official testifying that his reputation had suffered \u201cirreparable damage\u201d. Erasmus was banned from all rugby activities for two months.<\/p>\n