Six Nations returns, plus weekly appointments in England, France, South Africa, the Pro14 and New Zealand

This weekend sees the return of the 6 Nations, and referees Matthew Carley, Hollie Davidson and Sara Cox are all in action. Carley and Davidson are in Dublin as both men’s and ladies fixtures against Italy take place. Cox heads north of the border as Scotland host France in the women’s tournament. There’s top level debuts (albeit in friendlies) for Karl Dickson who referees the France v Wales friendly; Mike Adamson who’s at Twickenham on Sunday for the England v Barbarians match; and Alex Ruiz who gets his first major international as Scotland host Georgia. [Edit: England v Barbarians is now cancelled after a breach of Covid protocols by the Barbarians players during the week]

In England, it’s the Premiership Final but as we go to press, the match officials haven’t, for some reason, been confirmed. In France, there’s a full Top 14 fixture list (Tual Trainini oversees the Paris derby!) and similarly a full list across the Pro14. In the south, Lauren Jenner and Maggie Cogger-Orr referee the semi-finals of the Farah Palmer Cup as the men’s Mitre 10 heads into round 7. We also have the referee, AR and TMO appointments for the three Super Rugby Unlocked fixtures from the Cape. Phew..that’s a lot!

Have a great weekend, whatever you end up watching!
Keith

Guinness 6 Nations (Mens)

Ireland v Italy
Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng)
ARs: Luke Pearce (Eng) & Christophe Ridley (Eng)
TMO: Tom Foley (Eng)

Women’s 6 Nations

Ireland v Italy
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
ARs: Nikki O’Donnell (RFU) & Peter Martin (IRFU)
TMO: Neil Paterson (SRU)

Scotland v France
Referee: Sara Cox (RFU)
ARs: Joy Neville (IRFU) & Francesca Martin (WRU)
TMO: Ian Davies (WRU)

International friendlies

Scotland v Georgia
Referee: Alex Ruiz (FFR)
ARs: Mathieu Raynal (FFR) & Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
TMO: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

France v Wales
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
ARs: Frank Murphy (IRFU) & Ian Tempest (RFU)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)

ENGLAND V BARBARIANS
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
ARs: Nigel Owens (WRU) & Sam Grove-White (SRU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Gallagher Premiership Final

Exeter Chiefs v Wasps
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
ARs: Paul Dix & Simon Harding
TMO: Rowan Kitt

Allianz Premier 15s

Worcester Warriors Women v Wasps FC Ladies
Referee: Nick Wood
ARs: Peter Caunt & Jonathan Petzing

Bristol Bears Women v Loughborough Lightning
Referee: Charles Gayther
ARs: Adam Wookey & Lloyd Davies

Harlequins Women v Exeter Chiefs Women
Referee: Hamish Grant
ARs: James Clarke & Joshua Burgess

Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC v Sale Sharks Women
Referee: Harry Walbaum
ARs: Daniel Rowlands & Ryan Collier

Saracens Women v DMP Durham Sharks
Referee: Sam Phillips
ARs: James Pidding & Melanie Liley

Super Rugby Unlocked – Round 3

Pumas v Stormers
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
AR: Aimee Barrett-Theron & Griffin Colby
TMO: AJ Jacobs

Lions v Cheetahs
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
AR: Aimee Barrett-Theron & Griffin Colby
TMO: Willie Vos

Bulls v Sharks
Referee: Jaco Peyper
ARs: Marius van der Westhuizen & Paul Mente
TMO: AJ Jacobs

Guinness Pro14 – Round 3

Leinster v Zebre
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU, 12th competition game)
ARs: Chris Busby & Rob O’Sullivan (both IRFU)
TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU)

Benetton v Scarlets
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 57th competition game)
ARs: Manuel Bottino & Andrea Spadoni (both FIR)
TMO: Alan Falzone (FIR)

Ospreys v Glasgow Warriors
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU, 125th competition game)
ARs: Ben Whitehouse & Dan Jones (both WRU)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)

Ulster v Dragons
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 3rd competition game)
ARs: Sean Gallagher & Chris Busby (both IRFU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

Edinburgh v Connacht
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU, 4th competition game)
ARs: Ben Blain & David Sutherland (both SRU)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)

Munster v Cardiff Blues
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 8th competition game)
ARs: Frank Murphy & Eoghan Cross (both IRFU)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)

Mitre 10 Cup – Round 7

Otago v Northland
Referee: Mike Fraser
ARs: Jono Bredin & Oliver Hadfield

Bay of Plenty v Canterbury
Referee: Cam Stone
ARs: Sam Fellows & Cam Russell

Hawke’s Bay v Manawatu
Referee: Nick Briant
ARs: Hugh Reed & Stu Catley

North Harbour v Auckland
Referee: Richard Kelly
ARs: Kyle Lagerwall & Scott McKenzie

Tasman v Southland
Referee: James Doleman
ARs: Tom Holohan & Aidan Barnett

Counties Manukau v Wellington
Referee: Dan Waenga
ARs: Brandon Roberts & Robert Shore

Waikato v Taranaki
Referee: Angus Mabey
ARs: Michael Winter & Grant Stuart

Farah Palmer Cup – Semi Finals

Canterbury v Auckland Storm
Referee: Lauren Jenner
ARs: TBC

Waikato v Manawatu Cyclones
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr
ARs: Larissa Collingwood & Ben Brownlie

Top 14 – round 6

RC Toulon v Castres Olympique
Referee: Pierre Brousset
ARs: S.Minery & C.Coussan
TMO: J.Rebollal

Stade Toulouse v LOU Rugby
Referee: Pascal Gauzere
ARs:M.Chalon & S.Jaymes
TMO: P.Pechambert

SU Agen v Bayonne
Referee: Cedric Marchat
ARs: L.Ramos & F.Chazal
TMO: P.Dellac

Stade Français v Racing 92
Referee: Tual Trainini
ARs: P.Nuchy & A.Blondel
TMO: D.Grenouillet

ASM Clermont v Pau
Referee: Vivien Praderie
ARs: V.Blasco baque & B.Gabaldon
TMO: C.Lafon

Montpellier v CA Brive
Referee: Thomas Charabas
ARs: L.Cardona & R.Duhau
TMO: P.Bonhoure

La Rochelle v Union Bordeaux-Bègles
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
ARs: R.Poite & G.Elias
TMO: E.Gauzins