We’re getting close to the end of many of the northern hemisphere leagues, with final round action in France Top14, and for some in the Pro14 Rainbow Cup. There’s also the ProD2 final too to see who gains automatic promotion to the Top14. Good luck to Cedric Marchat (top left) who oversees that one! The Top 14 has all to play for with La Rochelle and Toulouse both tied on 77 points as they go into final day action. The Champions Cup finalists are away in Clermont (Pierre Brousset referees that one) with Alex Ruiz refereeing the European champions away at Bordeaux. Could be an interesting afternoon for them both!
In England, it’s the penultimate weekend of the men’s Premiership regular season with the playoff positions getting close to being settled.
In the Southern hemisphere, the Trans Tasman Super Rugby competition is just getting going, with some flexibility required to deal with covid spikes. The Chiefs game against Melbourne has had to be moved to Sydney. Graham Cooper (bottom right) hasn’t lost the game as the referee, but has less far to travel – a blessing no doubt!
Stay safe wherever you are, and enjoy your rugby
Keith
Top 14 – round 26
ASM Clermont v La Rochelle
Referee: Pierre Brousset
ARs: R.Poite & A.Blondel
TMO: E.Gauzins
Lyon v Agen
Referee: Thomas Charabas
ARs: A.Descottes & P.Puharre
TMO: J.Rebollal
Bayonne v Stade Français Paris
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
ARs: L.Cardona & F.Chazal
TMO: P.Bonhoure
Pau v Montpellier
Referee: Maxime Chalon
ARs: V.Blasco baque & G.Elias
TMO: C.Lafon
Bordeaux-Bègles v Toulouse
Referee: Alex Ruiz
ARs: L.Ramos & C.Coussan
TMO: E. Briquet Campin
Racing 92 v Brive
Referee: Jonathan Dufort
ARs: S.Minery & F.Masse
TMO: A.Hadj bachir
Castres v Toulon
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
ARs: P.Gauzere & J.Labarbe
TMO: D.Grenouillet
ProD2 Final
Perpignan v Biarritz Olympique
Referee: Cédric Marchat
ARs: Tual Trainini & Vivien Praderie
TMO: Patrick Dellac
Pro14 – Rainbow Cup – Rd 5
Vodacom Bulls v DHL Stormers
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU, 3rd competition game)
ARs: AJ Jacobs & Aimee Barrett-Theron (both SARU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
Connacht v Ospreys
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 53rd competition game)
ARs: Sean Gallagher & Rob O’Sullivan (both IRFU)
TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU)
Glasgow Warriors v Leinster
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU, 47th competition game)
ARs: Fin Brown & Graeme Ormiston (both SRU)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
Emirates Lions v Cell C Sharks
Referee: Stu Berry (SARU, 32nd competition game)
ARs: Cwengile Jadezweni & Aimee Barrett-Theron (both SARU)
TMO: AJ Jacobs (SARU)
Edinburgh v Ulster
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 74th competition game)
ARs: Keith Allen & Ian Kenny (both SRU)
TMO: Neil Paterson (SRU)
Cardiff Blues v Zebre
Referee: Ben Blain (SRU, 11th competition game)
ARs: Dan Jones & Mike English (both WRU)
TMO: Ian Davies (WRU)
Trans Tasman Super Rugby
Crusaders v Western Force
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
ARs: James Doleman & Brendon Pickerill
TMO: Chris Hart
QLD Reds v Blues
Referee: Mike Fraser
ARs: Nic Berry & Jordan way
TMO: Brett Cronan
Highlanders v NSW Waratahs
Referee: Damon Murphy
ARs: James Doleman & Jono Brendin
TMO: Chris Hart
Brumbies v Hurricanes
Referee: Paul Williams
ARs: Reuben Keane & James Quinn
TM: James Leckie
Chiefs v Melbourne Rebels (in Sydney)
Referee: Graham Cooper
ARs: Jordan Way & Brett Cronan
TMO: James Leckie
Gallagher Premiership
Sale Sharks v Harlequins
Referee: Wayne Barnes
ARs: Paul Dix & Jamie Leahy
TMO: Trevor Fisher
Leicester Tigers v Bristol Bears
Referee: Ian Tempest
ARs: Hamish Smales & Rob Warburton
TMO: Karl Dickson
Newcastle Falcons v Worcester Warriors
Referee: Luke Pearce
ARs: Adam Leal & John Meredith
TMO: Sean Davey
London Irish v Wasps
Referee: Tom Foley
ARs: Andrew Jackson & Dean Richards
TMO: Christophe Ridley
Northampton Saints v Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
ARs: Sara Cox & Anthony Woodthorpe
TMO: Claire Hodnett
Rugby Europe 7s
Women 7s Championship – Portugal
Hollie Davidson (SCO)
Doriane Domenjo (FRA)
Maria Latos (ALL)
Riette Meijer (NED)
Adele Robert (BEL)
Men 7s Championship – Portugal
Inigo Atorrasagasti (ESP)
Ethan Glass (CHE)
Sam Grove-White (SCO)
Adam Jones (WAL)
Women 7s Conference – Serbia
Karina Hramova (UKR)
Viktoria Magyar (HUN)
Elisabeth Martinez (ESP)
Cara Senneka (ALL)
Laura Wunsch (AUT)
Men 7s Conference – Serbia
Florin Bonea (ROU)
Boris Bovsunovskyi (UKR)
Valeriu Chirpicean (MDA)
Mike Hawkins (DEN)
Peter Martin (IRE)
Ivan Zelic (CRO)