The RWC is now a distant memory, and we’re back to the domestic leagues across the north. Those in the southern hemisphere begin their well deserved off-season!
There’s some women’s international matches this weekend as France play England (Joy Neville referees that) and Ireland play Wales with former Black Fern player, Rebecca Mahoney (pic on right) overseeing matters in Dublin.
In France, Stade Français Paris and Racing 92 may be hoping their internationals get back on the field soon, as they both prop-up the Top14 league rather than their usual high flying positions. Pierre Brousset will referee it.
Super 6s!
There’s a new competition in Scotland as the Super 6 series kicks off. The series will be played by six franchise teams, with part-time professional players, and will become the new top tier of domestic rugby in Scotland. One of its stated aims is to “improve playing standards in Scotland, by better-developing Scottish players, coaches and match officials to feed talent into the full-time professional game.” Good luck to David Sutherland (pic on left) who takes charge of the Boroughmuir Bears v Stirling County tie.
Enjoy your weekend!
Keith
Women’s Internationals
France v England
Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland)
ARs: Hollie Davidson (Scotland) & Aurelie Groizeleau (France)
TMO: Charles Samson (Scotland)
Ireland v Wales
Referee: Rebecca Mahoney (New Zealand)
ARs: Clara Munarini (Italy) & Glen Sheridan (Ireland)
Pro14 – Round 6
Edinburgh Rugby v Dragons
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU, 118th Championship Appearance)
ARs: Ian Kenny (SRU) & Graeme Ormiston (SRU)
TMO: Colin Stanley (IRFU)
Connacht Rugby v Leinster Rugby
Referee: Sean Gallagher (IRFU, 17th Championship Appearance)
ARs: Johnny Erskine (IRFU) & Mark Patton (IRFU)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Zebre Rugby Club v Glasgow Warriors
Referee: Ian Davies (WRU, 78th Championship Appearance)
ARs: Marius Mitrea (FIR) & Kelvin Short (WRU)
TMO: Wayne Davies (WRU)
Ospreys v Isuzu Southern Kings
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 4th Championship Appearance)
ARs: Ben Whitehouse (WRU) & Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Alan Falzone (FIR)
Cardiff Blues v Toyota Cheetahs
Referee: Ben Blain (SRU, 4th Championship Appearance)
ARs: Mike Adamson (SRU) & Fin Brown (SRU)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
Munster Rugby v Ulster Rugby
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU, 28th Championship Appearance)
ARs: Rob O’Sullivan (IRFU) & Paul Haycock (IRFU)
TMO: Simon McDowell (IRFU)
Scarlets v Benetton
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 47th Championship Appearance)
ARs: Dan Jones (WRU) & Stuart Gaffikin (IRFU)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)
Top 14 – Round 9
Toulon v Montpellier
Referee: Thomas Charabas
ARs: Laurent Cardona & Richard Duhau
TMO: Patrick Dellac
Bayonne v Pau
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
ARs: Patrick Nuchy & Arnaud Blondel
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
Bordeaux-Bègles v Agen
Referee: Romain Poite
ARs: Adrien Descottes & Laurent Breil
TMO: Mourad Zitouni
Castres Olympique v Brive
Referee: Julien Castaignède
ARs: Vivien Praderie & Laurent Perrin
TMO: Akim Hadj Bachir
Toulouse v Clermont
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz
ARs: Maxime Chalon & Jean-Claude Labarbe
TMO: Éric Gauzins
Lyon v La Rochelle
Referee: Vincent Blasco Baqué
ARs: Luc Ramos & Christian Coussan
TMO: Jean-Luc Rebollal
Stade Français Paris v Racing 92
Referee: Pierre Brousset
ARs: Tual Trainini & Bruno Gabaldon
TMO: Éric Briquet Campin
Gallagher Premiership – Round 4
Sale Sharks v Wasps
Referee: Tom Foley (70th Premiership game)
ARs: Jack Makepeace & Andrew Jackson
TMO: Stuart Terheege
Citing Officer: Chris Sharp
Bath Rugby v Northampton Saints
Referee: Ian Tempest (63rd Premiership game)
ARs: Hamish Smales & Wayne Falla
TMO: Trevor Fisher
Citing Officer: Duncan Bell
Gloucester Rugby v Saracens
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (66th Premiership game)
ARs: Adam Leal & Philip Watters
TMO: Claire Hodnett
Citing: Danae Zamboulis
Harlequins v Worcester Warriors
Referee: Matthew Carley (88th Premiership game)
ARs: John Meredith & Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: David Rose
Citing: Buster White
London Irish v Leicester Tigers
Referee: JP Doyle (174th Premiership game)
ARs: Andrew Jackson & Paul Dix
TMO: Sean Davey
Citing: Paul Hull
Exeter Chiefs v Bristol Bears
Referee: Karl Dickson (20th Premiership game)
ARs: Simon Harding & Jonathan Healy
TMO: Keith Lewis
Citing: John Byett
Greene King Championship
Hartpury University v London Scottish
Referee: Hamish Smales
ARs: Simon Adams & Clare Daniels
Coventry v Doncaster Knights
Referee: Michael Hudson
ARs: Gregory Garner & Nigel Carrick
Jersey Reds v Nottingham
Referee: George Selwood
ARs: Ian Bibey & Peter Brunt
Bedford Blues v Newcastle Falcons
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
ARs: Rob Warburton & Peter Allan
TMO: David Grashoff
Cornish Pirates v Ampthill
Referee: Dean Richards
ARs: Lionel Spooner & James Milliner-Woodcock
Yorkshire Carnegie v Ealing Trailfinders
Referee: Jack Makepeace
ARs: Gregg Dawson & Jamie Leahy
Italy – Peroni TOP12 – round 4
FEMI-CZ Rovigo v Kawasaki Calvisano Robot
Referee: Emanuele Tomò
ARs: Federico Vedovelli & Francesco Russo
Lafert San Donà v HBS Rugby Colorno
Referee: Manuel Bottino
ARs: Andrea Spadoni & Gianmarco Toneatto
Argos Petrarca v IM Exchange Viadana 1970
Referee:. Matteo Liperini
ARs: Matteo Franco & Lorenzo Imbriaco
SS Lazio Rugby 1927 v Valorugby Emilia
Referee: Riccardo Angelucci
ARs: Franco Rosella & Antonino Nobile
Tuscany Airports I Medicicei v Fiamme Oro Rugby
Referee: Federico Boraso
ARs: Gabriel Chirnoaga & Simone Boaretto
Sitav Rugby Lyons v Mogliano Rugby 1969
Referee: Vincenzo Schipani
ARs: Federico Vedovelli & Stefano Roscini
Scotland – Super 6
Boroughmuir Bears v Stirling County
Ref: David Sutherland
ARs: Michael Todd & Bob Nevins
Southern Knights v Watsonians Rugby
Ref: Ian Kenny
ARs: Ross Mabon & Alistair Watt
Ayrshire Bulls v Heriot’s Rugby
Ref: Keith Allen
ARs: Graeme Ormiston & Inigo Atorrasgasti (Spain)
Tennent’s Premiership
Aberdeen Grammar Rugby v Hawick
Ref: Jonny Perriam
ARs: Robbie Willison & Andrew Laing
Glasgow Hawks v Marr
Ref: Ruairidh Campbell
ARs: Craig Clark & Dean Lythgoe
Jed Forest v Currie Chieftains
Ref: Matt Rodden (Hong Kong)
ARs: Tom French & David Changleng
Musselburgh v GHA
Ref: Michael Todd
ARs: David Young & Jonathon Mackinnon
Selkirk v Edinburgh Academical
Ref: Inigo Atorrasgasti (Spain)
ARs: Samuel O’Neil & Digby Thomas