- Garces to retire after Rugby World Cup
- Second US Final for Green
- SA SuperSport semi final referees
The big finals of the weekend mainly happen en Francais! Jérôme Garcès will referee his third Top 14 final as Toulouse play Clermont. He refereed last year’s final, having done his first in 2013. The FFR website has revealed that he will retire from refereeing after the World Cup, so this will be his final match on French spoil after a 26-year refereeing career.
The other club final is in the US as the Major League Final sees San Diego play the Seattle Seawolves. Scott Green (pic above on right) will referee his second final, assisted by the visiting pair of Anthony Woodthorpe from England and Elgan Williams of Wales. On the World 7s series, it’s the final round of the Women’s circuit in Biarritz – the great and the good of the women’s refereeing world are all in the south of France to assist with that tournament. Sticking with the US focus, Emily Hsieh (pic top left) will be one of those in charge.
In Super Rugby, it’s the last week before the final series. In Invercargill Mike Fraser will be in charge of the Highlanders v Waratahs clash which is another last chance, must-win match for the home team – although they will have to await other results even if they do win. The same evening Angus Gardner will referee the Rebels v Chiefs match in Melbourne where there is also a mathematical chance that both teams can make the Finals if they win. In Buenos Aires, the Jaguares, who will top the South African Conference and therefore host a quarter-final, will host the Sunwolves. Federico Anselmi is the referee.
In Wellington, Glen Jackson will referee the Hurricanes, who will host a quarter-final next week, as they play the Blues. Fellow Kiwi, Paul Williams has the whistle for the Australian Conference derby between the Brumbies, who will win the Australian Conference and host a quarter-final, and the Reds in Canberra.
The regular season finishes with two intriguing South African Conference derbies that will be crucial to the outcome of the Conference and indeed the entire quarter-finals qualification. The Jaguares have won the Conference but all four South African teams can mathematically qualify for the quarter-finals. AJ Jacobs will oversee the Stormers versus the Sharks who are currently fifth on 33 points. Marius van der Westhuizen finishes things off as the Bulls play the Lions.
Top 14 Final
Toulouse v Clermont
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (3rd Final)
ARs: Pascal Gauzere & Matthieu Raynal
TMO: Eric Gauzins
US Major League Rugby – Final
San Diego Legion v Seattle Seawolves
Referee: Scott Green (USA)
ARs: Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU) & Elgan Williams (WRU)
TMO: Davey Ardrey (USA)
World Rugby Women’s 7s – France
In Biarritz: Joy Neville (Ireland), Sara Cox (England), Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Sakurako Kawasaki (Japan), Emily Hsieh (USA), Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy), Ashleigh Murray (South Africa) and Adam Jones (Wales)
Super Rugby – Round 18
Highlanders v Waratahs
Referee: Mike Fraser
ARs: Brendon Pickerill & James Munro
TMO: Glenn Newman
Rebels v Chiefs
Referee: Angus Gardner
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe & Graham Cooper
TMO: George Ayoub
Jaguares v Sunwolves
Referee: Federico Anselmi
ARs: Nick Briant & Juan Pablo Federico
TMO: Marius Jonker
Hurricanes v Blues
Referee: Glen Jackson
ARs: Brendon Pickerill & Mike Fraser
TMO: Glenn Newman
Brumbies v Reds
Referee: Paul Williams
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe & Graham Cooper
TMO: James Leckie
Stormers v Sharks
Referee: AJ Jacobs
ARs: Cwengile Jadezweni & Divan Uys
TMO: Willie Vos
Bulls v Lions
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
ARs: Egon Seconds & Stefan Geldenhuys
TMO: Christie du Preez
South Africa – SuperSport Rugby Challenge semi-finals
Pumas v Boland
Referee: Quinton Immelman
ARs: Stephan Geldenhuys & Johre Botha
TMO: Lesego Legoete
Western Province v Griquas
Referee: Paul Mente
ARs: Stephan Geldenhuys & Johre Botha
TMO: Lesego Legoete
