As we near the end of the northern seasons, and most league positions now settled, the big game of the weekend appears to be Ealing v Saracens in the first leg of the Championship play off. Wayne Barnes (top left) will oversee that match which has huge ramifications for both clubs. The second leg is next Sunday (20th June)
Down under, the Super Rugby Trans Tasman continues – James Doleman (bottom right) tops off a week which saw his first test appointment announced, with a trip to referee the Hurricanes v Queensland.
With Ospreys and Benetton called off because of covid cases in the Welsh club, Benetton are now confirmed as the northern representative for the Rainbow Final. The southern representative will be decided by the winner of the Sharks v Bulls match this weekend. The Bulls need a single bonus point to secure their spot. AJ Jacobs (top right) will be the referee for that one.
The Top 14 play off decider matches are set for Friday and Saturday. The teams teams who finished 3rd-6th are vying get through to next weekends play off semi finals against Toulouse and La Rochelle. There’s also a play off game to decide the final entrant for next year’s Top14 with Biarritz hoping to replace Bayonne – a big game for Alex Ruiz to referee.
Enjoy your weekend’s rugby
Keith
Super Rugby Trans Tasman – Round 5
Hurricanes v Queensland Reds
Referee: James Doleman
ARs: Angus Mabey & Dan Waenga
TMO: Aaron Paterson
Brumbies v Highlanders
Referee: Mike Fraser
ARs: Graham Cooper & Reuben Keane
TMO: Brett Cronan
Melbourne Rebels v Crusaders (in Sydney)
Referee: Nic Berry
ARs: Graham Cooper & Matt Kellahan
TMO: James Leckie
Blues v Western Force
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
ARs: Paul Williams & Angus Mabey
TMO: Brendon Pickerill
Waratahs v Chiefs
Referee: Jordan Way
ARs: Damon Murphy & Reuben Keane
TMO: Brett Cronan
Pro14 Rainbow Cup – Round 6
Zebre v Munster
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 14th competition game)
ARs: Marius Mitrea & Clara Munarini (both FIR)
TMO: Matteo Lipperini (FIR)
Leinster v Dragons
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 54th competition game)
ARs: Chris Busby & Eoghan Cross (both IRFU)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)
DHL Stormers v Emirates Lions
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU, 3rd competition game)
ARs: Cwengile Jadezweni & Rasta Rasivhenge (both SARU)
TMO: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)
Cell C Sharks v Vodacom Bulls
Referee: AJ Jacobs (SARU, 3rd competition game)
ARs: Jaco Peyper & Griffin Colby (both SARU)
TMO: Stuart Berry (SARU)
Scarlets v Edinburgh
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU, 48th competition game)
ARs: Adam Jones & Aled Evans (both WRU)
TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU)
Ospreys v Benetton – Cancelled
Gallagher Premiership – Round 22
Bath Rugby v Northampton Saints
Referee: Ian Tempest
ARs: Hamish Smales & Peter Allan
TMO: David Rose
Citing Officer: Duncan Bell
Bristol Bears v London Irish
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
ARs: Anthony Woodthorpe & Phil Watters
TMO: Andrew Jackson
Citing Officer: David Guyan
Exeter Chiefs v Sale Sharks
Referee: Karl Dickson
ARs: Greg Macdonald & Wayne Falla
TMO: Clare Hodnett
Citing Officer: Paul Hull
Harlequins v Newcastle Falcons
Referee: Christophe Ridley
ARs: Jack Makepeace & Simon McConnell
TMO: Nige Carrick
Citing Officer: John Byett
Wasps v Leicester Tigers
Referee: Luke Pearce
ARs: Mike Hudson & Jonathan Healy
TMO: Tom Foley
Citing Officer: Danae Zamboulis
Worcester v Gloucester – cancelled
Greene King RFU Championship playoff – 1st leg
Ealing Trailfinders v Saracens
Referee: Wayne Barnes
ARs: Paul Dix & Jamie Leahy
TMO: Stu Terheege
Top 14 – play off qualifiers
Racing 92 v Stade Français Paris
Referee : Thomas Charabas
ARs: Romain Poite & Frédéric Chazal
TMO : Eric BRIQUET-CAMPIN
Union Bordeaux-Bègles v ASM Clermont
Referee: Pascal Gauzere
ARs: Maxime Chalon & Bruno Gabaldon
TMO : Denis Grenouillet
Top 14 access playoff
Biarritz Olympique vs Aviron Bayonnais
Referee : Alexandre Ruiz
ARs : Adrien Descottes & Luc Ramos
TMO : Philippe Bonhoure