Contrary to popular belief, Germany remain in the World Cup (for now). Their two-legged match agains Samoa for a spot in Japan starts this weekend in Apia – Jerome Garces of France is the referee. Matthew Carley from the RFU is on the side – a chance for him to see the sides up close before he takes charge of the second leg in Germany later on 14 July. The outcome of the two legs will determine the side that will join Ireland, Scotland, hosts Japan and Russia in Pool A at Rugby World Cup 2019.
There are also Africa Gold Cup matches (which will ultimately determine Africa 1 in Pool B) and a play off for a space at a Repecharge tournament in November (also for a Pool B spot). This weekend, the first leg of the Cook Island v Hong Kong play off takes place with New Zealand’s Brendon Pickerill in refereeing.
The Super Rugby seasons resumes after it’s break for the international window. Week 17 sees U20 World Championship final referee, Egon Seconds, take the whistle as the Blues host the Reds in Auckland. Australian Nic Berry oversees the top-of-the-table clash in the Australian Conference between Rebels and Waratahs in Melbourne. Fiji again host an all-Kiwi Super Rugby fixture as the Highlanders take on the Chiefs, with Paul Williams (pictured on home page) in charge. In Singapore, the Sunwolves are hosting the Bulls with Ben O’Keeffe as the referee. The South African derby between the Sharks and Lions in Durban will be refereed by the experienced Jaco Peyper while Angus Gardner will referee the Jaguares versus Stormers match in Buenos Aires.
Enjoy the weekend’s fixtures.
Rugby World Cup 2019 Qualifiers
Samoa v Germany (first leg)
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (Fra)
ARs: Matthew Carley (Eng) & Cam Stone (NZ)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (NZ)
Cook Island v Hong Kong
Referee: Brendon Pickerill (NZ)
ARs: Angus Mabey (NZ) & Mike Winter (NZ)
Rugby Africa Gold Cup
Kenya v Zimbabwe – Referee: Tual Trainini (Fra)
Morocco v Namibia – Referee: Adrien Descottes (Fra)
Super Rugby, Round 17
Rebels v Waratahs
Referee: Nic Berry (Aus)
ARs: Graham Cooper (Aus) & Jordan Way (Aus)
TMO: Damien Mitchelmore (Aus)
Blues v Reds
Referee: Egon Seconds (SA)
ARs: Rasta Rasivhenge (SA) & Glen Jackson (NZ)
TMO: Ben Skeen (NZ)
Highlanders v Chiefs (in Suva, Fiji)
Referee: Paul Williams (NZ)
ARs: Jamie Nutbrown (NZ) & James Doleman (NZ)
TMO: Shane McDermott (NZ)
Brumbies v Hurricanes
Referee: Nick Briant (NZ)
ARs: William Houston (Aus) & James Leckie (Aus)
TMO: Ian Smith (Aus)
Sharks v Lions
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SA)
ARs: AJ Jacobs (SA) & Stuart Berry (SA)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
Sunwolves v Bulls
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
ARs: Shuhei Kubo (Jpn) & Tasuku Kawahara (Jpn)
TMO: Minoru Fuji (Jpn)
Jaguares v Stormers
Referee: Angus Gardner (Aus)
ARs: Pali Deluca (Arg), José Covasi (Arg)
ARs: Santiago Borsani (Arg)
