FRENCH

referee Jerome Garces will officiate Ireland’s Six Nations clash with England at Lansdowne Road. Joe Schmidt’s side will open their title defence against England on February 2. Fellow Frenchman Romain Poite wil be the man in the middle when Ireland travel to Edinburgh to face Scotland at Murrayfield the following Saturday. New Zealand’s Glen Jackson will officiate Ireland’s meeting with Italy at the Stadio Olimpico on February 24. Fellow Kiwi Ben O’Keefe will take charge when Ireland host France in Dublin on March 10 while Angus Gardner will preside over Ireland’s final game against Wales in Cardiff.