A weekend of starts this weekend! It’s the start of the Guinness Six Nations, the start of the Women’s Six Nations and the start of the Super Rugby season! And, as ever, the referees, ARs and TMOs are all in place and ready to officiate over rugbying matters. The Six Nations mens competition kicks off in Cardiff as Wales host the Italians – England’s Luke Pearce (pic on left) is in charge there with France’s Mathieu Raynal in Dublin as Ireland play Scotland. Nigel Owens has the third game in Paris where England will meet the French. In the Women’s tournament, the first whistle belongs to Aurelie Groizeleau (France) who will oversee Ireland and Scotland match. Sara Cox (Eng) and South Africa’s Aimee Barrett-Theron referee the other two fixtures in Wales and France respectively.
In the Southern hemisphere, the Super Rugby seasons kicks off tomorrow, with Gus Gardner refereeing the opening match between the Blues and the Chiefs in Aukland. We’ve also got World Rugby 7s action in Sydney, Pro14, England’s Premiership Cup semi finals, RFU Championship and Scotland’s Sarah Beaney Cup officials too.
Plenty of rugby action for you this weekend wherever you happen to be. We’ll be around through the weekend to pick up any controversial issues, so keep an eye on our social channels – or ask us over on Twitter, Instagram, or head to our Facebook page or our Refsquad.com community group too.
Enjoy!
Keith
Guinness Six Nations
Wales v Italy
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
ARs: Matthew Carley (Eng) & Mike Fraser (NZ)
TMO: James Leckie (Aus)
Ireland v Scotland
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (Fra)
ARs: Pascal Gauzere (Fra) & Federico Anselmi (Arg)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZ)
France v England
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wal)
ARs: Andrew Brace (Ire) & Brendon Pickerill (NZ)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ire)
Women’s Six Nations
Ireland v Scotland
Referee: Aurelie Groizeleau (Fra)
ARs: Clara Munarini (Ita) & Doriane Domenjo (Fra)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
Wales v Italy
Referee: Sara Cox (Eng)
ARs: Nikki O’Donnell (Eng) & Katherine Ritchie (Eng)
TMO: David Grashoff (Eng)
France v England
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SA)
ARs: Joy Neville (Ire) & Beatrice Benvenuti (Ita)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ire)
Six Nations u20 – Round 1
Ireland v Scotland
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
ARs: Manuel Bottino (Italy) & Matteo Liperini (Italy)
TMO: Stefano Pennè (Italy)
Wales v Italy
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
ARs: Frank Murphy (Ireland) & Robert O’Sullivan (Ireland)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
France v England
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
ARs: Saba Abulashvili (Georgia) & Irakli Tchanukvadze (Georgia)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
World Rugby 7s – Sydney
Men’s competition
Damian Schneider (Argentina), Paulo Duarte (Portugal), Jordan Way (Australia), Richard Kelly (New Zealand), Jeremy Rozier (France), Craig Evans (Wales), James Doleman (New Zealand), Damon Murphy (Australia) & Francisco Gonzalez (Uruguay)
Women’s competition
Adam Jones (Wales), Amy Perrett (Australia), Emily Hsieh (USA), Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Tevita Rokovereni (Fiji), Tyler Miller (Australia)
Super Rugby – Round 1
Blues v Chiefs
Referee: Angus Gardner
ARs: Paul Williams & Dan Waenga
TMO: Aaron Paterson
Brumbies v Reds
Referee: AJ Jacobs
ARs: Nic Berry & Graham Cooper
TMO: Ian Smith
Sharks v Bulls
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
ARs: Jaco Peyper & Egon Seconds
TMO: Marius Jonker
Sunwolves v Rebels
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
ARs: Shuhei Kubo & Tasuku Kawahara
TMO: Minoru Fuji
Crusaders v Waratahs
Referee: Paul Williams
ARs: Angus Gardner & Dan Waenga
TMO: Shane McDermott
Stormers v Hurricanes
Referee: Jaco Peyper
ARs: Marius van der Westhuizen & Egon Seconds
TMO: Joey Klaaste-Salmans
Jaguares v Lions
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
ARs: Pablo Deluca & Martin Cordoba
TMO: Santiago Borsani
Premiership Cup – Semi Finals
Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
ARs: Adam Leal & Greg Macdonald
TMO: Keith Lewis
Citing Commissioner: Duncan Bell
Sale v Saracens
Referee: Hamish Smales
ARs: John Meredith & Simon McConnell
TMO: Trevor Fisher
Greene King Championship
Yorkshire Carnegie v Nottingham
Referee: Andrew Jackson
ARs: Gregg Dawson & Simon Park
Doncaster Knights v London Scottish
Referee: Jack Makepeace
ARs: Simon Adams & Ian Bibey
Bedford Blues v Jersey Reds
Referee: Hamish Smales
ARs: Simon McConnell & John Meredith
Coventry v Cornish Pirates
Referee: Neil Chivers
ARs: Darryl Chapman & Nigel Carrick
Ealing Trailfinders v Hartpury University
Referee: Michael Hudson
ARs: Lionel Spooner & Bill Burton
Newcastle Falcons v Ampthill
Referee: George Selwood
ARs: Wayne Falla & Jamie Leahy
Scotland – Sarah Beaney Cup
Garioch WRFC v Howe Harlequins
Ref: Grant Stephen
Ayr WRFC v Hillhead Jordanhill WRFC
Ref: Greg Cameron
Cartha Queens Park WRFC v Stirling County WRFC
Ref: Sean Niven
Heriot’s Blues Women v Stewartry WRFC
Ref: Gordon Galasham
PRO14 – Round 9
Cheetahs v Kings
Referee: Divan Uys (SA – first Championship appointment)
ARs: JD Jadezweni (SA) & Quinton Immelman (SA)
TMO: Johann Greeffe (SA)
