James Doleman

Born in Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty, Doleman took up officiating while still a student in Dunedin. He took charge of the final of the 2019 World Rugby U20 Championship before becoming a professional referee a year later, overseeing a number of Super Rugby fixtures in 2020. A step-up to international level followed in 2021. It was at Twickenham last year that he oversaw a first Six Nations encounter, refereeing England’s win over Italy, while he operated as an assistant during the World Cup in France in the autumn.