Super Rugby continues in the South as the northern sides step up their return to training.
World Rugby have unveiled a revised international window so that the Guinness 6 Nations can conclude, and then a revised Rugby Championship can take place.
The new window opens on 24 October and 5 December. In the north, there will be a programme of international matches involving the Six Nations and invited teams – hosted in Europe – from 14 November through to 5 December. Due to cross-border travel concerns across southern hemisphere unions, the Rugby Championship 2020 will be hosted in full in a single country – more than likely to be New Zealand – over a reduced six-week between 7 November and 12 December. The WR Council will debate and discuss this proposal next week.
And finally this week, we pay our respects to Paul Dobson, a much loved and respective refereeing legend who passed away on Monday. Paul was an expert on the history of the game and his profound knowledge of the laws of the game was awe-inspiring. He passed his law exam every year for the last 50 years, and for many years was the man behind the SAReferees.com website and its content. In 2012, the IRB – as World Rugby was then known – acknowledged him with the IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service. I had the privilege of meeting him in Cape Town many years ago and he watched me to a game while I was on exchange there. A great man, who inspired me and this website itself. We stayed in touch with my occasional requests for help, which he always responded with a quip or two thrown in for good measure. RIP Oupa.
Super Rugby Aotearoa – Round 7
Crusaders v Hurricanes
Referee: James Doleman
ARs: Paul Williams & Mike Fraser
TMO: Ben O’Keeffe
Blues v Chiefs
Referee: Brendon Pickerill
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe & Paul Williams
TMO: Mike Fraser
Super Rugby Australia – Round 4
Waratahs v Rebels
Referee: Angus Gardner
ARs: Amy Perrett & Reuben Keane
TMO: Ian Smith
Force v Brumbies (being played in Sydney)
Referee: Damon Murphy
ARs: Amy Perrett & Angus Gardner
TMO: George Ayoub