WORLD RUGBY HAS announced that Deon von Blommestein will serve as the Television Match Official for Ireland’s meeting with England on Sunday.
Shaun Veldsman was scheduled to act as TMO for the Six Nations fixture, but suffered a stab wound to the lung during on assault after a Super Rugby game last weekend.
With Veldsman now unable to travel due to that injury, his South African compatriot von Blommestein will replace him in the TMO booth at the Aviva Stadium this weekend.
Western Province match official Von Blommestein is part of the South African Rugby Union’s six-man TMO panel alongside Veldsman, and has experience in the booth in the Currie Cup, Super Rugby and The Rugby Championship.
Von Blommestein completes the officiating team for Sunday’s game with referee Craig Joubert and assistants Jérôme Garcès and Mathieu Raynal.
Well wishes from across the rugby world have been extended to Veldsman after he was attacked in his car on Saturday.
The South African official had been involved in the Super Rugby clash between the Stormers and Blues at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town earlier that day.