Jerome Garces has been appointed as the referee for England’s World Cup final against South Africa, after Wales’ Nigel Owens was ruled out with a calf injury.

Owens, who is widely considered to be the best referee in the world, is understood to have picked up the injury while officiating in the first half of England’s semi-final victory over New Zealand on Saturday.

He managed to get through the game after receiving some treatment but was later diagnosed with a pulled calf muscle and was ruled out of taking charge of his second successive World Cup final.He officiated New Zealand’s victory over Australia in the 2015 final at Twickenham.

A similar calf injury forced Owens to leave the field during a Welsh Premiership match between Cardiff and Pontypridd on Sept 8, just before he flew to Japan.

He was, however, passed fit to take charge of the tournament’s opening match between the hosts Japan and Russia.