Wayne Barnes to referee Ireland-New Zealand quarter-final

England's Wayne Barnes has been named as referee for Ireland's World Cup quarter-final with New Zealand in the Stade de France on Saturday evening.

The enormously experienced official - one of the favourites to referee the final should England not make it - was the man in charge when Ireland defeated New Zealand 32-22 to seal a 2-1 series win in Wellington last summer.

He also officiated the 2018 November international between the sides, when Ireland won 16-9 to claim their first victory over the All Blacks on Irish soil.

Barnes has reffed Ireland on three occasions in 2023, overseeing the thrilling win over France in the Aviva Stadium in February, the warm-up game against Samoa in Bayonne and the 59-16 win over Tonga in Nantes in the World Cup pool phase.

I'm honoured to have been selected to referee the #NZvIRE @rugbyworldcup quarter final.
The last time I reffed these two in 2022 it was one hell of a game. I’m sure this will be no different. https://t.co/7wLHWgCnLX

Matthew Carley and Christophe Ridley are his assistant refs, with Tom Foley on TMO duty.

Meanwhile, New Zealander Ben O'Keefe, who oversaw Ireland's win over South Africa in Pool B, will again officiate the Springboks as they take on France in Sunday's quarter-final.

High profile South African official Jaco Peyper will referee Wales-Argentina on Saturday afternoon, while France's Matthieu Raynal is the man in the middle for the England-Fiji last-eight tie on Sunday.

Follow a live blog of Ireland v New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday with kick-off 8pm. Listen to live radio commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.