FOUR NATIONS FINAL: England v Australia Venue: Elland Road, Leeds Date: Sat, 14 November Kick-off: 1930 GMT Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and online, plus text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles. Also live on Sky Sports 2.
 England face Australia in Saturday's Four Nations final |
New Zealander Leon Williamson will referee Saturday's Four Nations final between England and Australia. Williamson is a compromise choice after the two finalists failed to secure their first-choice officials. England wanted St Helens referee Steve Ganson while the Kangaroos wanted Australian official Shayne Hayne. The deadlock was broken after three days of talks when Rugby Football League match officials chief Stuart Cummings agreed to a neutral referee. Williamson was in charge of England's opening game against France, and Australia's game against the French in Paris. English official Phil Bentham will be the video referee, Thierry Alibert of France the reserve referee and Adam Burns of New Zealand the reserve touch judge.  | 606: DEBATE |
Australia objected to both Hayne and the other neutral referee, Alibert, and earlier in the tournament lost out to England in the choice of official for the meeting between the two sides at Wigan. Following a request by Australia, Hayne, who this week was named referee of the year by the International Federation, will as video referee observer at the final. On Monday Australia coach Tim Sheens said: "Since we've played England under an English referee, I don't see why England should whinge or worry about us playing under an Australian referee." English official Ganson was at the centre of controversy when, as video referee in last November's World Cup final, he awarded a penalty try to New Zealand as they shocked favourites Australia.
|
Bookmark with:
What are these?