As most southern hemisphere fans enjoy the warm Christmas off season, those in the north continue to eat, drink and be rugby-fuelled! As we reported earlier in the week, Wayne Barnes breaks records, and one other interesting team of four, sees three female officials on one professional game as Matthew O’Grady is supported by ARs Sara Cox and Claire Daniels, with TMO Claire Hodnett in the truck, as Bristol host the Cornish Pirates.
In the PRO14, Christmas air flights won’t be troubled with the two South African teams having the week off and only the Scots and the Welsh referees taking short trips elsewere. Mike Adamson (pictured) heads to Connacht as they host Ulster and at Murrayfield, the 1872 Cup is being played between the rival cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Frank Murphy flies the other way to Adamson to oversee that one.
Wherever you are, and whatever you’re doing, please do enjoy your Christmas break, whether you celebrate it or otherwise. May your whistles be merry, and your cards on your mantlepieces!
Merry Christmas!
Guinness PRO14, Round 11
Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors
Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland) – 10th tournament fixture
ARs: David Wilkinson (Ireland) & Lloyd Linton (Scotland)
TMO: Kevin Beggs (Ireland)
Connacht v Ulster
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland) 16th tournament fixture
ARs: Joy Neville (Ireland) & Kieran Barry (Ireland)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Newport Gwent Dragons v Cardiff Blues
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland) – 30th tournament fixture
ARs: Dan Jones (Wales) & Adam Jones (Wales)
Munster v Leinster
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales) – 159th tournament fixture
ARs: Sean Gallagher (Ireland) & Stuart Gaffikin (Ireland)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Benetton v Zebre
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy) – 74th tournament fixture
ARs: Manuel Bottino (Italy) & Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Alan Falzone (Italy)
Scarlets v Ospreys
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales) – 69th tournament fixture
ARs: Ben Whitehouse (Wales) & Craig Evans (Wales)
TMO: Tim Hayes (Wales)
Aviva Premiership
Worcester Warriors v London Irish
Referee: Wayne Barnes – 191st Premiership fixture
ARs: JP Doyle, & Paul Dix
TMO: Stuart Terheege
Sale Sharks v Bath
Referee: Ian Tempest – 39th tournament fixture
ARs: Jack Makepeace & Wayne Falla
TMO: Trevor Fisher
Wasps v Gloucester
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys – 43rd tournament fixture
ARs: Adam Leal & Matthew O’Grady
TMO: Geoffrey Warren
Newcastle Falcons v Harlequins
Referee: Luke Pearce – 69th tournament fixture
ARs: Hamish Smales & John Meredith
TMO: Graham Hughes
Northampton Saints v Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Tom Foley – 45th tournament fixture
ARs: Anthony Woodthorpe & Simon McConnell
TMO: David Grashoff
Leicester Tigers v Saracens
Referee: Matthew Carley – 66th tournament fixture
ARs: Peter Allan & Paul Dix
TMO: Rowan Kitt
RFU Greene King Championship
Jersey v Hartpury College
Referee: Dean Richards
ARs: Darryl Chapman & Lionel Spooner
Bristol v Cornish Pirates
Referee: Matthew O’Grady
ARs: Sara Cox & Clare Daniels
TMO: Claire Hodnett
Rotherham Titans v Doncaster Knights
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
ARs: Gregory Garner & Chris Sharp
London Scottish Bedford Blues
Referee: Christophe Ridley
ARs: Roy Maybank & Nick Marshall
Yorkshire Carnegie v Nottingham
Referee: Steve Lee
ARs: Phil Watters & Bill Burton
Ealing Trailfinders v Richmond
Referee: Andrew Jackson
ARs: Rob Warburton & Nigel Carrick
France – Top 14, Round 13
Racing 92 v Toulouse
Referee: Jérôme Garcès
ARs: Cyril Lafon & Joffrey Gauzins
TMO: Laurent Sclafer
Agen v Brive
Referee: Romain Poite
ARs: Vincent Blasco Baque & Laurent Breil
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
Bordeaux-Bègles v La Rochelle
Referee: Thomas Charabas
ARs: Tual Trainini & Arnaud Blondel
TMO: Éric Briquet Campin
Montpellier v Lyon
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère
ARs: Tual Trainini & Patrick Pechambert
TMO: Éric Gauzins
Castres v Stade Français
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
ARs: Laurent Cardona & Bruno Gabaldon
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
Pau v Clermont
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
ARs: Cédric Clave & Jacques De Lemos
Toulon v Oyonnax
Referee: Maxime Chalon
ARs: Vivien Praderie & Thierry Guilloton
TMO: Patrick Dellac
Thank you and a merry Christmas to you all