DEVON referee Luke Pearce will take charge of his first Six Nations match in February.

Pearce will officiate the Scotland v Italy match at Murrayfield on February 2.

He will also be the number one assistant referee for Scotland’s game with Wales on March 9.

The Devonian, who took change of the autumn international between Wales and South Africa, is hoping he may be picked to be an official at next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Pearce is one of three England referees selected to officiate at the 2019 Six Nations, joining Wayne Barnes and Matthew Carley.

Carley, like Pearce, will also be making his debut in the competition.

“We’re delighted to have three English referees officiating the Guinness Six Nations next year which is testament to the huge amount of hard work that all three have put into earning this selection,” said RFU head of professional game match officials Tony Spreadbury.

“For Matthew Carley and Luke Pearce this is a great milestone and achievement and for Wayne Barnes this is recognition of his consistency and accuracy by the majority of the stakeholders in the game.

“We’re also very proud of Karl Dickson who has excelled in such a short period of time as well as the six TMOs who have been appointed.”