International Rugby
Jackson set to take charge of England clash
ESPN Staff
October 11, 2012
Referee Glen Jackson makes a call, Highlanders v Hurricanes, Super Rugby, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand, May 12, 2012
Former Saracens fly-half Glen Jackson only began his refereeing career three years ago © Getty Images
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Former Saracens fly-half Glen Jackson is set to referee England's clash with Fiji at Twickenham next month and continue his meteoric rise to prominence as an official.

Jackson only retired as a player following Sarries' defeat to Leicester in the Premiership finale two years ago but has since been fast-tracked through the refereeing ranks and is now poised to take charge of his first international involving a Tier 1 side.

A former Premiership Player of the Year, Jackson completed his RFU exams during his stint with Saracens having started refereeing age-grade rugby while playing for Super Rugby side the Chiefs in his native New Zealand. After calling time on his playing career he returned south where he swiftly graduated from provincial games to Super Rugby and the international stage.

The 36-year-old took charge of the Fiji-Tonga clash in the build-up to last year's Rugby World Cup and also acted as the Television Match Official for the Tri-Nations clash between New Zealand and Australia. Most recently he was the man in the middle for four games at the IRB Junior World Championship and featured as an assistant for two games in this year's Rugby Championship.

Jackson will also referee Georgia's clash with Japan in Tbilisi next month and also serve as an assistant for England's clash with South Africa at Twickenham on November 24.

Another rising star of the officiating world, former Munster player John Lacey will also referee his first Tier 1 side when he takes charge of France's clash with Samoa in Paris on November 24. He is also slated to work as an assistant for Scotland's date with South Africa and France's meeting with Australia.

John Jeffrey, the chairman of the selection committee and IRB Council member for Scotland said: "With an unprecedented number of international matches being played over the next few weeks, it has given us the opportunity to appoint a number of up-and-coming referees to some exciting test matches.

"It is all part of ensuring that we have the best possible match official team available for Rugby World Cup 2015 while also providing the best referees for the highest-level matches."

Earlier this year, HSBC Sevens World Series referee manager Paddy O'Brien highlighted Jackson's promise. "Glen is probably the most exciting prospect that has come through IRB refereeing for four or five years, along with John Lacey, an ex-player from Munster, Alain Rolland who we've already seen in a Rugby World Cup Final, ex-player for Ireland, played scrum-half," he said. "He will be, mark my words, an international referee, it's just a matter of time, he really excites me."

England's other autumn games - against Australia, South Africa and New Zealand - will be controlled by Frenchman Romain Poite, Wales' Nigel Owens and Irishman George Clancy, respectively. Click here for the complete list of appointments.

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