The big match of the weekend takes place in Rosario, where Kiwi, James Doleman will referee the World U20 Championship final between France and Australia. The 27 year old, Otago RFU referee education officer, (pictured centre) will be assisted by England’s Christophe Ridley and Scotland’s Ben Blain. Brian MacNeice from Ireland is the TMO. There are five other matches to decide the final positions of the 12 participants.
In Super Rugby, there’s a strange appointment as Glen Jackson referees the Jaguares v the Chiefs. Odd? Not in itself, but all the other matches have country-neutral referees. As we have commented elsewhere, it is odd that SANZAAR haven’t switched Jackson and Peyper around which would remove the issue. Nic Berry (above right) and Mike Frazer are the other two referees on duty.
In South Africa, their Super Sport series concludes with Ben Crouse refereeing the Pumas against Griquas.
World U20s Championships
Scotland v Fiji (11th place play-off)
Referee: Craig Evans (Wal)
ARs: Rasta Rasivhenge (SA) & Juan Spirandelli (Arg)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ire)
Italy v Georgia (9th place play-off)
Referee: Pali Deluca (Arg)
ARs: Damian Schneider (Arg) & Martin Eusebio (Arg)
TMO: Santiago Borsani (Arg)
Ireland v New Zealand (7th place play-off)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
ARs: Rasta Rasivhenge (SA) & Ignacio Bocardo (Arg)
TMO: Santiago Borsani (Arg)
Wales v England (5th place play-off)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
ARs: Tomaz Bertazza (Arg) & Nicolas Cotic (Arg)
TMO: Ian Smith (Aus)
Argentina v South Africa (3rd place play-off)
Referee: Damon Murphy (Aus)
ARs: Ben Blain (Sco) & Christophe Ridley (Eng)
TMO: Ian Smith (Aus)
France v Australia (Final)
Referee: James Doleman (NZ)
ARs: Christophe Ridley (Eng) & Ben Blain (Sco)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ire)
Super Rugby Quarterfinals
Crusaders v Highlanders
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SA)
ARs: Paul Williams (NZ) & Brendon Pickerill (NZ)
TMO: Ben Skeen (NZ)
Jaguares v Chiefs
Referee: Glen Jackson (NZ)
ARs: Nick Briant (NZ) & Federico Anselmi (Arg)
TMO: Santiago Borsani (Arg)
Hurricanes v Bulls
Referee: Nic Berry (Aus)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ) & Brendon Pickerill (NZ)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZ)
Brumbies v Sharks
Referee: Mike Fraser (NZ)
ARs: Angus Gardner (Aus) & Graham Cooper (Aus)
TMO: James Leckie (Aus)
SuperSport Rugby Challenge – Final
Pumas v Griquas
Referee: Ben Crouse
ARs: Cwengile Jadezweni & Quinton Immelman
TMO: Joey Klaaste-Salmans
I know I may be the only one but I do miss Rasta at the sevens having watched his career for a few years , and I do know that all referees have to take turns at being linesmen so it just seams far and few that he takes charge of a match.
Hi John – he’s done a fair few Super Rugby matches this season (remembering they are operating as pods now where the same officials rotate AR-Ref-AR) and also at the U20s World Championships so you can still get your share of the Rasta out there!