Andrea Piardi will take charge of Friday’s Nations Championship showdown between the Springboks and France at the Stade de France, with an experienced team of officials appointed for the high-stakes encounter.
The Springboks’ latest meeting with France is shaping up to be a fiercely contested battle, and Italian referee Andrea Piardi will be at the centre of the action when the teams meet in Paris on Friday, 13 November.
The Nations Championship fixture is an important one for both sides as they look to strengthen their positions in the tournament standings ahead of the end-of-month finals weekend.
Piardi is no stranger to officiating South Africa. Friday’s appointment will mark the third time he has refereed a Springboks Test.
His previous involvement included South Africa’s recent defeat to Australia at the end of September. He also took charge when the Springboks edged Argentina in London in 2025.
Meet the full referee team for France vs Springboks
Piardi will be supported by English official Christophe Ridley and fellow Italian Gianluca Gnecchi as assistant referees.
Matteo Liperini, also from Italy, has been appointed television match official (TMO), while England’s Andrew Jackson will serve as the foul play review official (FPRO).
The appointments for Friday’s match are:
- Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
- Assistant referee 1: Christophe Ridley (England)
- Assistant referee 2: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
- Television match official: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
- Foul play review official: Andrew Jackson (England)
Springboks and France renew their rivalry
There is plenty of history between these teams, particularly following their dramatic 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final. South Africa won that encounter by just one point, and the possibility of a revenge factor remains a talking point in France.
Springboks assistant coach Felix Jones believes the memory of that match could still add an edge to Friday’s contest.
Jones suggested that a game of such significance does not simply disappear from the players’ memories, although he expects most of the rivalry to remain on the field.
He also highlighted the good relationships between members of the two coaching camps away from the game, including France head coach Fabien Galthié and team manager Raphaël Ibañez.
But when the whistle blows, Jones made it clear that both teams will be focused on one thing: winning.
When do the Springboks play France?
The Springboks face France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Friday, 13 November 2026.
Kick-off is scheduled for 22:20 South African time.
With tournament standings at stake and memories of the 2023 World Cup quarter-final still fresh, the encounter promises to be a major test for both sides.
Will the Springboks come away with another victory over France in Paris?
