A weekend of firsts! Super Rugby gains its first female referee with the appointment of Amy Perrett to the Brumbies Super Rugby game. In a similar vein, Sara Cox becomes the first female AR in the Premiership (Bath v Wasps) and we also see a Pro14 debut for Gianluca Gnecchi as Zebre take on Benetton.
Congrats to all three debutants – Great news to see the development of referees around the world, and obviously to have more high level referees of all genders is a boost for rugby, and a boost of officiating in general.
Whatever you’re watching this weekend, enjoy it!
Keith
Super Rugby Australia – Round 9
Brumbies v Force (in Canberra)
Referee: Amy Perrett
ARs: Angus Gardner & Reuben Keane
TMO: Graham Cooper
Waratahs v Rebels (in Sydney)
Referee: Graham Cooper
ARs: Angus Gardner & Amy Perrett
TMO: James Leckie
Gallagher Premiership – Round 17
Sale Sharks v Bristol Bears
Referee: Karl Dickson
ARs: Ian Tempest & Hamish Smales
TMO: Andrew Jackson
Harlequins v Northampton Saints
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
ARs: Simon Harding & Dean Richards
TMO: David Grashoff
Exeter Chiefs v Worcester Warriors
Referee: Adam Leal
ARs: Jonathan Healy & Phil Watters
TMO: David Rose
Gloucester Rugby v Leicester Tigers
Referee: Matthew Carley
ARs: Jack Makepeace & Paul Dix
TMO: Claire Hodnett
Bath Rugby v Wasps
Referee: Wayne Barnes
ARs: Christophe Ridley & Sara Cox
TMO: Luke Pearce
London Irish v Saracens
Referee: Tom Foley
ARs: Greg Macdonald & Mike Hudson
TMO: Stuart Terheege
Pro14 – Round 15
Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors
Referee: Ben Blain
ARs: Sam Grove-White & Graeme Ormiston
TMO: Neil Paterson
Dragons v Scarlets
Referee: Craig Evans
ARs: Ben Whitehouse & Gwyn Morris
TMO: Ian Davies
Ulster v Leinster
Referee: George Clancy
ARs: Andrew Brace & Eoghan Cross
TMO: Brian MacNeice
Munster v Connacht
Referee: Frank Murphy
ARs: Sean Gallagher & Chris Busby
TMO: Olly Hodges
Cardiff Blues v Ospreys
Referee: Adam Jones
ARs: Nigel Owens & Dan Jones
TMO: Sean Brickell
Zebre v Benetton
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi
ARs: Andrea Pairdi & Federico Vedovelli
TMO: Stefano Penne