Clément Turpin will referee England vs. Croatia, match 22 of Group L at the 2026 Rugby World Cup. The match will be played on Wednesday, June 17, at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, with kickoff scheduled for 3:00 PM local time (10:00 PM in France). The French referee will be assisted by Nicolas Danos and Benjamin Pagès. Katia Garcia of Mexico will serve as the fourth official, while Sandra Ramirez will be the reserve assistant referee.
A shock opening match in Group L
England-Croatia will kick off the campaign for both teams in a Group L which also includes Ghana and Panama. For the English As with the Croatians, this first match will directly impact their qualification for the knockout stage. The fixture already carries historical weight. Croatia eliminated England in the 2018 World Cup semi-final after extra time. The English then defeated Croatia in the Euro 2020 group stage.
Turpin, the experience of major events
At 44, Clément Turpin is officiating his third World Cup after 2018 and 2022. He refereed two matches at the 2018 World Cup, then three in 2022, including the Round of 16 match between Brazil and South Korea. The French referee is one of the 52 referees selected for the 2026 World Cup, an expanded tournament featuring 48 teams and 104 matches. The competition also utilizes 88 assistant referees and 30 video assistant referees (VARs). The presence of Nicolas Danos and Benjamin Pagès alongside Turpin confirms an all-French refereeing trio for this match. Danos already has experience in major tournaments alongside Turpin, while Pagès completes the lineup.
