World Cup referees: Ian Malinruns the rule over the oficials taking charge for the next six weeks

Wayne Barnes

Eng (age 28)

The youngest referee at the finals. Barnes, a barrister specialising in criminal law, 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 1998

In his third World Cup, he has been a referee since the age of 12, when he started in Eastwood in his home city of Sydney. After Dickinson ran touch in New Zealand this summer, Bernard Laporte was reported in French papers as saying if Dickinson were in charge of any French matches in the World Cup, his side would not turn up.

Paul Honiss

NZ (44) Int debut: Feb 97

Has been a Test referee for a decade and took charge of the opening game in the last World Cup, between Australia and Argentina. Courted controversy this summer when he suggested on New Zealand radio that players should be encouraged to challenge referees' decisions. The International Rugby Board reprimanded him.

Marius Jonker

SA (39) Int debut: Aug 05

Jonker, number two in South Africa, is a strict disciplinarian, as befits a former outhalf for the Pietermaritzburg Police team. 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.

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 Irish fans when he took charge of the 2001 Lions' second Test in Melbourne.

Alan Lewis

Irl (43) Int debut: Sept 98

Lewis, a right-handed batsman and medium-paced bowler, played cricket 121 times for Ireland after making a duck on his debut against the West Indies in 1984.

This will be the second World Cup for the man who took charge of this year's Heineken Europen Cup final, between Wasps and Leicester at Twickenham.

Tony Spreadbury

Eng (45) Int debut: Feb 90

England's most high-profile referee, the voluble and frequently high-pitched 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.

Had the honour of blowing the opening blast last night when France kicked 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" after a row with England's fitness coach, Dave Reddin. Began refereeing at 16 after a spinal injury ended his playing career.

Joël Jutge

Fr (41) Int debut: Aug 99

France's leading referee is a former scrumhalf for Colomiers but a knee injury at 24 cut short his playing career and he took up refereeing in 1991. Failed to spot the Leicester flanker Neil Back's hand dipping into a vital scrum in the dying seconds of the 2002 European Cup final in Cardiff.

Nigel Owens

Wal (36) Int debut: Feb 05

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.

Chris White

Eng (44) Int debut: May 98

Once a school teacher, now England's most experienced Test referee, the Cheltenham man is in his third World Cup.

The former Swansea University centre has also refereed three Heineken European Cup finals.

Alain Rolland (left)

Irl (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 scrumhalf. Gave up playing at the dawn of professionalism in 1995. His bilingual skills make him a favourite for France games.