Lacey To Referee First Six Nations Game

Munster Coach Development Officer John Lacey will referee his first Six Nations game in the 2014 Championship.

It will be the first game of the 2014 Six Nations between Wales and Italy at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The game takes place on Saturday the 1st of February, the day before Ireland open their campaign against Scotland at the Aviva Stadium.

Lacey is one of only eleven referees selected for the Six Nations.

IRB Match Official Selection Committee Chairman John Jeffrey said: “Before making these appointments, careful consideration has been given to every performance during what was an extremely busy November window.

"Our policy is to apply the best-for-best principle while also keeping one eye on the future to ensure the best-possible panel for Rugby World Cup 2015.”

The Tipperary native is a former Munster player and retired from the game at the age of 33 to concentrate on his career as a referee.

Lacey was in charge of the weekend’s Heineken Cup clash between Leicester Tigers and Montpellier at Welford Road that ended 41-32 to the hosts.