5-10 March: Rugby referee appointments

A Six Nations gap weekend, but we have a round of Rugby Europe taking place. Shota Tezvade of Georgia (pic top left) will oversee the Russia v Romania match, with the Italian, Gianluca Gnecchi refereeing Portugal against Georgia match. Elsewhere, we have a full list of Super Rugby (Aus and NZ), Pro14, South Africa, Top 14 and Premiership (men’s and women’s). Due to a wider recovery and covid testing window for players, the South Africa matches take place in midweek, hence the wider date range this week. The Greene King Championship resumes in England on Saturday. The second tier league has some added focus this year, with a revised format and with former European Champions, Saracens trying to secure their seat back in the Premiership after last season’s enforced relegation for off-field matters. Sara Cox (bottom right) will referee their first match as they take on the Cornish Pirates. A tip of the hat to Wayne Barnes who referees his 500th first class match this weekend. It should have been last Sunday in Paris, but he’ll have to make do with a Friday night in Leicester to reach that milestone.

Good luck to all officials out this weekend, and let’s hope that the rugby public behaves better than it did last weekend. Mistakes or not, the levels of abuse seen for officials, players and members of the media brought shame to a sport we all love. Let’s try and do better this weekend.
Keith

Rugby Europe Championship 2021

Russia v Romania
Referee: Shota Tezvadze (GEO)
ARs: S. Abulashvili (GEO) & E. Procopi (MDA)
TMO : T. Gvirjishvili (GEO)

Portugal v Georgia
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (ITA)
ARs: F. Vedovelli (ITA) & F. Bertelli (ITA)
TMO: S. Roscini (ITA)

Pro14 – Round 14

Munster v Connacht
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 5th competition game)
ARs: Andrew Brace & Eoghan Cross (both IRFU)
TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU)

Zebre v Glasgow Warriors
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 12th competition game)
ARs: Matteo Liperini & Clara Munarini (both FIR)
TMO: Stefano Pennè (FIR)

Ulster v Leinster
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU, 42nd competition game)
ARs: Seán Gallagher & Robert O’Sullivan (both IRFU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

Ospreys v Dragons
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU, 18th competition game)
ARs: Nigel Owens & Dan Jones (both WRU)
TMO: Rhys Thomas (WRU)

Edinburgh v Benetton
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 13th competition game)
ARs: Ben Blain & Ian Kenny (both SRU)
TMO: Hollie Davidson (SRU)

Super Rugby AU – Round 3

NSW Waratahs v Western Force
Referee:  Nic Berry
ARs: Amy Perrett & Jordan Way
TMO: Brett Cronan
 
Brumbies v Melbourne Rebels
Referee Damon Murphy
ARs: Jordan Way & Nic Berry
TMO: Brett Cronan

Super Rugby Aotearoa – Round 2

Chiefs v Highlanders
Referee: Paul Williams (Pic top right)
ARs: Mike Fraser & James Doleman
TMO: Brendon Pickerill
 
Crusaders v Hurricanes
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
ARs: Mike Fraser & James Doleman
TMO: Brendon Pickerill

Gallagher Premiership

Leicester v London Irish
Referee: Wayne Barnes (235th Premiership game)
ARs: Christophe Ridley & Phil Watters
TMO: Stuart Terheege
Citing Officer: Brian Campsall

Sale v Newcastle
Referee: Andrew Jackson (26th Premiership game)
ARs: John Meredith & Jamie Leahy
TMO: Trevor Fisher
Citing Officer: David Guryan

Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Tom Foley (90th Premiership game)
ARs: Greg Macdonald & Paul Dix
TMO: Geoff Warren
Citing Officer: Buster White

Wasps v Gloucester
Referee: Matthew Carley (102nd Premiership game)
ARs: Dean Richards & Simon McConnell
TMO: Graham Hughes
Citing Officer: Paul Hull

Worcester Warriors v Bristol Bears
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (88th Premiership game)
ARs: Michael Hudson & Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: Rowan Kitt
Citing Officer: Danae Zamboulis

Harlequins v Northampton Saints
Referee: Luke Pearce (108th Premiership game)
ARs: Karl Dickson & Adam Leal
TMO: Nigel Carrick
Citing Officer: Paul Burke

Greene King Championship

Hartpury University v Richmond
Referee: Christophe Ridley
ARs: Peter Brunt & Nick Marshall

Coventry v Bedford Blues
Referee: Hamish Smales
ARs: Neil Chivers & Darryl Chapman

Cornish Pirates v Saracens
Referee: Sara Cox
ARs: Adam Wookey & Clare Daniels

Nottingham v Ealing Trailfinders
Referee: Jack Makepeace
ARs: Nick Wood & Lionel Spooner

Ampthill v Doncaster Knights
Referee: Simon Harding
ARs: Joe James & Steve Lee

Allianz Premier 15s

Saracens Women v Bristol Bears Women
Referee: Harry Walbaum
ARs: James Clarke & Matt Sharpe

DMP Durham Sharks v Loughborough Lightning
Referee: Ben Rayner
ARs: Rebecca Rees & Tom Doig

Harlequins Women v Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC
Referee: Nikki O’Donnell
ARs: Neil Sweeney & Michael Woods

Wasps FC Ladies v Exeter Chiefs Women
Referee: Charles Gayther
ARs: Sam Phillips & James Pidding

Worcester Warriors Women v Sale Sharks Women
Referee: Hamish Grant
ARs: Andrew Wigley & Peter Caunt

Top 14 – round 20

Montpellier v Clermont
Referee: Pierre Baptiste Nuchy
ARs: V.Praderie & B.Gabaldon
TMO: R.Poite

Toulouse v Brive
Referee: Luc Ramos
ARs: J.Dufort & C.Coussan
TMO: E.Gauzins

Bordeaux-Bègles v Pau
Referee: Tual Trainini (pic bottom left)
ARs: V.Blasco baque & C.Bultet
TMO: C.Lafon

Castres v La Rochelle
Referee: Cedric Marchat
ARs: T.Charabas & J.Labarbe
TMO: J.Rebollal

Bayonne v Lyon
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
ARs: S.Coulon & C.Bats
TMO: P.Dellac

Stade Français Paris v SU Agen
Referee: Maxime Chalon
ARs: T.Mallet & A.Blondel
TMO: B.Bessot

RC Toulon v Racing 92
Referee: Pierre Brousset
ARs: A.Descottes & S.Crapoix
TMO: A.Hadj bachir

South Africa – Preparation Cup

Tafel Lager Griquas v DHL Stormers
Referee: Jaco Peyper
ARs: Ben Crouse & Mpho Matsaung
TMO: JJ Wagner

NNC Pumas v Vodacom Bulls
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
ARs: Stephan Geldenhuys & Ashleigh Murray
TMO: Pro Legoete

EP Elephants v Lions
Referee: AJ Jacobs
ARs: Phumzile Mbewu & Sean Muller
TMO: Christie du Preez

Toyota Cheetahs v Cell C Sharks
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
ARs: Griffin Colby & Jaco Kotze
TMO: Cwengile Jadezweni