The experienced Kiwi official, who took charge of Englands World Cup semi-final victory against France last November, has been handed the June 26 clash at Suncorp Stadium.

OBrien is among 16 referees announced on the International Rugby Boards A panel for Tests worldwide between May and August this year. B and C panels have also been identified.

The A panel includes English World Cup pair Chris White and Tony Spreadbury, Irish trio Alain Rolland, Donal Courtney and Alan Lewis, plus Welshman Nigel Williams.

South African Jonathan Kaplan has been appointed to the New Zealand versus England clash in Dunedin on June 12, with Williams controlling the second Test in Auckland seven days later.

IRB A panel: Andrew Cole (Australia), Donal Courtney (Ireland), Stuart Dickinson (Australia), Paul Honiss (New Zealand), Joel Jutge (France), Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa), Mark Lawrence (South Africa), Alan Lewis (Ireland), Paddy OBrien (New Zealand), Alain Rolland (Ireland), Tony Spreadbury (England), Steve Walsh (New Zealand), Andre Watson (South Africa), Chris White (England), Nigel Williams (Wales), Scott Young (Australia).

Main appointments: May 22, Scotland v Barbarians (Jutge); May 26, Wales v Barbarians (Rob Dickson, Scotland); May 30, England v Barbarians (Nigel Whitehouse, Wales). June 4, Samoa v Scotland (Kelvin Deaker, New Zealand); June 12, South Africa v Ireland (Spreadbury), Argentina v Wales (Courtney), New Zealand v England (Kaplan); June 13, Australia v Scotland (Honiss); June 19, Australia v Scotland (Lawrence), Argentina v Wales (Lewis), South Africa v Ireland (Jutge), New Zealand v England (Williams); June 26, Australia v England (OBrien), South Africa v Wales (Walsh).