Australian referee Stuart Dickinson will officiate the third and final Test between South Africa and the British and Irish Lions in Johannesburg in July.

It is the first Lions tour of South Africa in 12 years.

IRB High Performance Referee Panel members Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), Christophe Berdos (France) and Dickinson have been appointed by the IRB Referee Selection Committee to take charge of the three Test matches.

Lawrence will officiate the first Test in Durban on June 20, with Berdos refereeing the second Test in Pretoria on June 27 and Dickinson the third Test in Johannesburg on July 4.

The trio will form a neutral Test panel that will also include specialist Assistant Referee Vinny Munro (New Zealand) for the first Lions Tests on South African soil for 12 years.

IRB Referee Manager Paddy O'Brien said team management were in favour of neutral referees for the Test series.

"Bryce, Christophe and Stuart are all highly experienced members of the IRBs High Performance Referee Panel with nearly 80 internationals between them, O'Brien said.

"They are relishing the opportunity to take their place in Lions history."

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