Englishman Chris White will take charge of the opening match of the 2008 RBS 6 Nations between Ireland and Italy at Croke Park on Saturday 2nd February.
White's appointment comes as all the officials for the 2008 championship were named.
South African Craig Joubert will referee England versus Wales at Twickenham later on the same day.
The other opening weekend fixtures between Scotland and defending champions France at Murrayfield on Sunday 3rd February will be overseen by Paul Honiss of New Zealand.
2008 RBS 6 Nations referee appointments:
February 2, Ireland v Italy (Chris White, England); England v Wales (Craig Joubert, South Africa); February 3, Scotland v France (Paul Honiss, New Zealand).
February 9, Wales v Scotland (Bryce Lawrence, New Zealand); France v Ireland (Nigel Owens, Wales); February 10, Italy v England (Alain Rolland, Ireland).
February 23, Wales v Italy (Dave Pearson, England); Ireland v Scotland (Christophe Berdos, France); France v England (Steve Walsh, New Zealand).
March 8, Ireland v Wales (Wayne Barnes, England); Scotland v England (Jonathan Kaplan, South Africa); March 9, France v Italy (Alan Lewis, Ireland).
March 15, Italy v Scotland (Joël Jutge, France); England v Ireland (Stuart Dickinson, Australia), Wales v France (Marius Jonker, South Africa).