Damon Murphy becomes another of Rugby Australia’s dual internationals having represented his country as the 7s captain and now as a referee. He referees Rugby World Cup repecharge qualifier between Hong Kong v Cook Islands.
In Super Rugby, week 18 kicks off with a Kiwi derby between the number one ranked Crusaders and the Highlanders in Christchurch. Brendon Pickerill has the whistle in a match the visitors need to win to have any chance of a home quarter-final. The same night Paul Williams is in Brisbane where the Rebels need to beat the Reds to ensure their push for a finals berth. Rasta Rasivhenge is in Hamilton for the Chiefs versus Brumbies while Ben O’Keeffe is in charge of the Hurricanes versus Blues match in Wellington. Egon Seconds takes charge of the Bulls versus Jaguares in Pretoria where the visitors will be looking for their eighth win in a row and top place in the South African conference. Fellow SARU referee, Jaco Peyper oversees the South African derby between the Stormers and Sharks in Cape Town where the revitalised Sharks will need a win to keep their finals hopes alive. Finally, Boli Anselmi oversees the Waratahs v Sunwolves tie.
In the Africa Gold Cup, Frenchman Jonathan Dufort may need his diplomatic skills to the fore after week of claim and counterclaim about the visitors’ hotel accommodation in Tunisia, who host Zimbabwe.
Enjoy the weekend rugby!
Rugby World Cup 2019 – Repecharge Qualifier
Hong Kong v Cook Islands
Referee: Damon Murphy (Aus)
ARs: Shuhei Kubo (Jpn) & Tasuku Kawahari (Jpn)
Rugby Africa – Africa Gold Cup
Kenya v Uganda – Referee: Quinton Immelman (SA)
Tunisia v Zimbabwe – Referee: Jonathan Dufort (France)
Super Rugby, week 18
Crusaders v Highlanders
Referee: Brendon Pickerill (NZ)
ARs: Mike Fraser (NZ) & Jamie Nutbrown (NZ)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (NZ)
Reds v Rebels
Referee: Paul Williams (NZ)
ARs: Nic Berry (Aus) & Graham Cooper (Aus)
TMO: Ian Smith (Aus)
Chiefs v Brumbies
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (SA)
ARs: Glen Jackson (NZ) & Angus Mabey (NZ)
TMO: Shane McDermott (NZ)
Hurricanes v Blues
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
ARs: Mike Fraser (NZ) & Jamie Nutbrown (NZ)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (NZ)
Waratahs v Sunwolves
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Arg)
ARs: William Houston (Aus) & James Leckie (Aus)
TMO: Damien Mitchelmore (Aus)
Bulls v Jaguares
Referee: Egon Seconds (SA)
ARs: AJ Jacobs (SA) & Jaco Kotze (SA)
TMO: Johan Greeff (SA)
Stormers v Sharks
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SA)
ARs: Stephan Geldenhuys (SA) & Archie Sehlako (SA)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
