The Pro14 returns this weekend, to join the Gallagher Premiership and while the Super Rugby Aotearoa ended on a bit of a damp squib, the Australia competition continues too. We have some new names on the referees list this week. Adam Jones from Wales gets his first Pro14 game as he looks after the returning Ospreys v Dragons match. Not a debut, but a relatively new name in Super Rugby Australia, as Jordan Way is in charge of the Western Force, Queensland Reds tie up.
There’s some usual suspects in the Premiership, although one name readers may be surprised not to have seen in the last few weeks is that of JP Doyle. Media reports suggest that Doyle, a 41 year old 180-match Premiership referee, has been made redundant as part of the wide restructure and cost cutting at the RFU. More details to emerge no doubt, but here’s the initial story on our Facebook page. We wish him well in the future.
For those involved this weekend, enjoy!
Keith
Super Rugby Australia – Round 8
Force v Reds (played at CBUS Stadium, Gold Coast)
Referee: Jordan Way
ARs: Nic Berry & Damon Murphy
TMO: Brett Cronan
Brumbies v Waratahs (in Canberra)
Referee: Angus Gardner
ARs: Graham Cooper & Reuben Keane
TMO: Ian Smith
Gallagher Premiership – Rounds 15 (Fri & Sat) & 16 (Tues & Wed)
Round 15 (played 21-22 August)
Sale Sharks v Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Matthew Carley Tom Foley
ARs: Tom Foley Jack Makepeace & Steve Lee
TMO: Trevor Fisher
Wasps v Worcester Warriors
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
ARs: Adam Leal & Rob Warburton
TMO: Keith Lewis
Gloucester Rugby v Bristol Bears
Referee: Luke Pearce
ARs: Phil Watters & Dean Richards
TMO: Claire Hodnett
Saracens v Harlequins
Referee: Christophe Ridley
ARs: Jamie Leahy & Paul Dix
TMO: Geoff Warren
London Irish v Northampton Saints
Referee: Ian Tempest
ARs: Andrew Jackson & Mike Hudson
TMO: Rowan Kitt
Leicester Tigers v Bath Rugby
Referee: Karl Dickson
ARs: Jack Makepeace & Adam Leal
TMO: David Grashoff
Round 16 (to be played Tues 25th and Wed 26th August)
All subject to change
Wasps v Sale Sharks (Tuesday)
Referee: Matthew Carley
ARs: Greg Macdonald & Jonathan Healy
TMO: Nigel Carrick
Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs (Tuesday)
Referee: Wayne Barnes
ARs: Craig Maxwell-Keys & Karl Dickson
TMO: Rowan Kitt
Saracens v Gloucester Rugby (Wednesday)
Referee: Ian Tempest
ARs: Adam Leal & Roy Maybank
TMO: Karl Dickson
Worcester Warriors v Harlequins (Wednesday)
Referee: Jack Makepeace
ARs: Peter Allan & Phil Watters
TMO: Tom Foley
Leicester Tigers v London Irish (Wednesday)
Referee: Luke Pearce
ARs: Andrew Jackson & Wayne Falla
TMO: Sean Davey
Northampton Saints v Bath Rugby (Wednesday)
Referee: Christophe Ridley
ARs: Paul Dix & Jamie Leahy
TMO: Wayne Barnes
Guinness Pro14 – round
Benetton Rugby v Zebre Rugby
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 6th Championship Appearance)
ARs: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR) & Manuel Bottino (FIR)
TMO: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
Scarlets v Cardiff Blues
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU, 184th Championship Appearance)
ARs: Ben Whitehouse (WRU) & Dan Jones (WRU)
TMO: Wayne Davies (WRU)
Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 44th Championship Appearance)
ARs: Sam Grove-White (SRU) & Finlay Brown (SRU)
TMO: Neil Patterson (SRU)
Leinster v Munster
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 53rd Championship Appearance)
ARs: George Clancy (IRFU) & Joy Neville (IRFU)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)
Ospreys v Dragons
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU, 1st Championship appearance)
AR1: Craig Evans (WRU) & Gwyn Morris (WRU)
TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU)
Connacht v Ulster
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU, 33rd Championship Appearance)
ARs: Sean Gallagher (IRFU) & Chris Busby (IRFU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
