Rugby Championship, Currie Cup and Top14 referees – 24-26 August

After a quiet first round of Rugby Championship matches last weekend, this week sees English rugby referee Wayne Barnes take over the whistle in Australia, and Gus Gardner heading to Mendoza as the Pumas take on the Springboks. Let’s hope the controversy stays away.

Aimee Barrett-Theron in first Currie Cup match
Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images

In South Africa, Aimee Barrett-Theron (right) becomes the first female referee to be appointed to a Currie Cup match. She will look after the first division match on the south coast, when the South Western Districts Eagles meet the Leopards.

In France, the new Top 14 season gets underway with some familiar referees in the mix. Romain Poite referees the Toulon v Racing 92 match, with Montpellier v Castres being overseen by his World Rugby colleague Mathieu Raynal. They will both be on Rugby Championship duty later in September.

 

The 2018 Rugby Championship

New Zealand v Australia
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
ARs: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) & Luke Pearce (England)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

Argentina v South Africa
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand) & Andrew Brace (Ireland)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)

 

France Top 14, Round 1

Perpignan v Stade Français
Referee: Laurent Cardona
ARs: Thomas Charabas & Richard Duhau
TMO: Denis Grenouillet

Bordeaux-Bègles v Pau
Referee: Pierre Brousset
ARs: Ludovic Cayre & A Blondel
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure

Lyon v Toulouse
Referee: tba

La Rochelle v Grenoble
Referee: Jonathan Dufort
ARs: Julien Castaignède & Jean-Luc Rebollal
TMO: Bruno Bessot

Clermont v Agen
Referee: Maxime Chalon
ARs: Vincent Blasco Baque & Laurent Breil
TMO: Éric Gauzins

Toulon v Racing 92
Referee: Romain Poite
ARs: Cyrille Lafon & Bruno Gabaldon
TMO: Laurent Sclafer

Montpellier v Castres
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
ARs: Adrien Descottes & Jean-Claude Labarbe
TMO: Mourad Zitouni

 

South Africa – Currie Cup

Premier Division, Round 2

Golden Lions v Griquas
Referee: Egon Seconds
ARs: Ben Crouse & Christopher Allison
TMO: Lesego Legoete

Sharks v Blue Bulls
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
ARs: Archie Sehlako & Vusi Msibi
TMO: Christie du Preez

Western Province v Free State Cheetahs
Referee: AJ Jacobs
ARs: Cwengile Jadezweni & Nathan Swartz
TMO: Shaun Veldsman

1st Division

South Western Districts Eagles v Leopards – Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron

Boland Cavaliers v Eastern Province Elephants – Referee: Graham Cooper (Australia)

Valke v Border Bulldogs – Referee: Ben Crouse

Welwitschias v Griffons – Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys