The French XV holds the fate of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the World Cup on Friday 6th October in their hands. Even with confidence in the Italian camp, Fabian Caldi’s Blues have a good chance of booking a ticket to the finals. Against Italy, 41-year-old Carl Dixon will be refereeing his fourth match at this World Cup.
Former professional rugby player
Before becoming an international referee, Carl Dixon worked as a professional rugby player, scrum half. The Salisbury native has enjoyed two clubs. Bedford Blues, his training club, where he was from 2001 to 2009, and Harlequins, one of the great English clubs, having won two English Championships (2012 and 2021) and three European Challenge Cups (2001, 2004 and 2011). Specifically. He made 164 appearances for the London outfit before hanging up his boots in 2017.
Toulouse residents don’t have good memories
Hearing Carl Dixon’s name no doubt brings back bad memories for Stade Toulouse supporters and some of the players in the France XV on the Stade de Lyon pitch on Friday evening. On 14 May 2022, the Englishman was on the whistle in the European Cup semi-final against Leinster, losing heavily to Rouge et Noir (40–17). Starting against Italy, Thomas Ramos, Anthony Gelonch, Cyril Bale, Antoine Dupont and Julien Marchand were notable in the game. The referee’s performance was criticized, with supporters accusing him of being impartial.
Read more. World Cup: How Scotland can eliminate Ireland or South Africa
2019 World Cup Assistant Referee
Carl Dixon started training as a referee in 2014 while still a player. Before officiating at the World Cup in France, the Englishman already had little World Cup experience. In Japan, four years ago, he was one of the assistant referees of the tournament. In 2022, the former scrum-half led his first match of the 6 Nations tournament, during a match between Scotland and France… won by the Blues at Murrayfield (17-36), the band’s Grand Slam year for Fabian Calthie.
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