KEY POINTS:
CHRIS WHITE (England)
The 40-year-old has refereed since the age of 17, and will be officiating in his third World Cup. Was also in charge of the 2003, 2005 and 2006 Heineken Cup finals.
TONY SPREADBURY (England)
The 45-year-old will take charge of the tournament opener
between France and Argentina. Has been an international referee for 17 years and this will be his second World Cup.
WAYNE BARNES (England)
The youngest official ever to be appointed to the Panel of National Referees, when he was selected in 2001, aged just 21. Took up refereeing at 15 and will be making his World Cup debut.
NIGEL OWENS (Wales)
Will be making his World Cup debut in France only two years after officiating his first international match.
ALAN LEWIS (Ireland)
A former Ireland international cricketer, the 43-year-old refereed both this season's Heineken Cup and EDF Energy cup finals. This will be his second World Cup.
ALAIN ROLLAND (Ireland)
With a French father and fluent in the language, Rolland is a former Ireland scrum-half who turned to refereeing when the game went professional. This will be his second World Cup.
JOEL JUTGE (France)
The Frenchman will officiate England's crucial pool match against South Africa. He took charge of the 2002 Heineken Cup final between Leicester and Munster. This will be his second World Cup.
STUART DICKINSON (Australia)
Dickinson became a referee at the prodigious age of 12. This will be his third World Cup. He took charge of the famous upset of Ireland by Argentina at the 1999 tournament.
PAUL HONISS (New Zealand)
Honiss took up refereeing after his playing career was ended by a bad concussion. This will be his third World Cup. He has been an international referee for 10 years.
STEVE WALSH (New Zealand)
Walsh made history when he refereed the first rugby international at Croke Park, between Ireland and France. His playing career ended at age 13, due to a spinal injury resulting from a birth deformity. This will be his second World Cup.
JONATHAN KAPLAN (South Africa)
Kaplan reportedly wanted to be a referee ever since his primary school days. He controlled the first ever Six Nations match between Italy and Scotland in February 2000. This will be his second World Cup.
MARIUS JONKER (South Africa)
Jonker will be making his World Cup debut in France. He is considered one of the best referees in South Africa.
- PA SPORT