A full round of match officials appointments this week, and the star one is in SW London, where Sara Cox becomes the first female referee in England’s Premiership. She referees Harlequins against Worcester. Best of luck Sara! Elsewhere the two RFU representatives at the Rugby Championship are both in whistle action – Matt Carley referees the hosts Australia who this week play Argentina. His compatriot, Luke Pearce as the 100th playing of the New Zealand v South Africa fixture. The European qualifier tournament for RWC21(in22) has its final weekend. The winner of the tournament will qualify automatically with the second place team heading into the final qualifying tournament later in the year. Hollie Davidson and Clara Munarini will referee the two matches with all four teams on equal points – all to play for!
Elsewhere, the United Rugby Championship is back as the South African franchises join up to the Pro14 competition of old. The referee pool is full of familiar faces, so expect to see South Africans as well as the Irish, Welsh, Scots and Italians refereeing. Ireland’s Chris Busby kicks things off as Zebre take on the Lions.
We have full lists from England, Scotland, France, New Zealand and Hong Kong to keep you informed! The referee pictured bottom right is Craig Chan who referees the HK Scottish v Societe Generale in the Hong Kong Premiership.
Have a great weekend
Keith
(Ref: Locksheath Pumas v New Milton RFC in the Hampshire Premiership!)
The Rugby Championship – Round 5
New Zealand v South Africa (in Townsville, Australia)
Referee: Luke Pearce (ENG)
ARs: Jordan Way (AUS)& Reuben Keane (AUS)
TMO: Damon Murphy (AUS)
Australia v Argentina (in Townsville, Australia)
Referee: Matthew Carley (ENG)
ARs: Jaco Peyper (RSA) & Nic Berry (AUS)
TMO: Brett Cronan (AUS)
Rugby World Cup 2021 – Qualifying Europe, final round
Italy v Spain (in Parma)
Referee: Hollie Davidson (RFU)
ARs: Nikki O’Donnell (RFU) & Maria Giovanna Pacifico (FIR)
TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)
Ireland v Scotland (in Parma)
Referee: Clara Munarini (FIR)
ARs: Aurelie Groizeleau (FFR) & Maria Giovanna Pacifico (FIR)
TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)
United Rugby Championship – Round 1
Zebre v Emirates Lions
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 10th league game)
ARs: Riccardo Angelucci (FIR) & Federico Boraso (FIR)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)
Cardiff v Connacht
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 15th league game)
ARs: Elgan Williams (WRU) & Steff Edwards (WRU),
TMO: Alan Falzone (FIR)
Ulster v Glasgow
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 75th league game)
ARs: Peter Martin (IRFU) & Andrew Cole (IRFU)
TMO: Ian Davies (WRU)
Benetton v DHL Stormers
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU, 50th league game)
ARs: Federico Vedovelli (FIR) & Alex Frasson (FIR)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)
Leinster v Vodacom Bulls
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 55th league game)
ARs: AJ Jacobs (SARU) & Daniel Carson (IRFU)
TMO: Neil Paterson (SRU)
Edinburgh v Scarlets
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 67th league game)
ARs: Ian Kenny (SRU) & Graeme Ormiston (SRU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Munster v Cell C Sharks
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU, 23rd league game)
ARs: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU) & Dermot Blake (IRFU)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)
Dragons v Ospreys
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
ARs: Gwyn Morris (WRU) & Tom Spurrier (WRU),
TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU)
Hong Kong – Dettol Men’s Premiership
Kroll USRC Tigers v DAC Kowloon
Referee: Stephen Copeman
ARs: Mark Jackson & James Byatt
KPMG HK Scottish v Societe Generale Valley
Referee: Craig Chan
ARs: Shane Barr & Francesco Cammisa
Impact HK HKU Sandy Bay v Natixis HKFC
Referee: Morgan White
ARs: Patrick Kwok & Kevin West
Hong Kong – Dettol Women’s Premiership
Kroll USRC Tigers Ladies v DAC Kowloon Ladies
Referee: Mark Jackson
ARs: Evans Lam, Sunny Lee
Gai Wu Falcons v Societe Generale Valley Black Ladies
Referee: Shane Barr
ARs: Jackie Ho & Waldo Burke
SCAA First Pacific Causeway Bay Phoenix v Natixis HKFC Ice
Referee: Sam Chan
ARs: Francesco Cammisa & Aggie Poon
England – Gallagher Premiership – Round 2
Gloucester v Leicester Tigers
Referee: Tom Foley
ARs: Anthony Woodthorpe & Paul Dix
TMO: Wayne Barnes
Citing Officer: Duncan Bell
Bath v Newcastle Falcons
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
ARs: Dean Richards & John Meredith
TMO: David Rose
Citing Officer: Dave Guyan
Wasps v Bristol Bears
Referee: Karl Dickson
ARs: Ian Tempest & Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: Claire Hodnett
Citing Officer: Chris Catling
Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints
Referee: Christophe Ridley
ARs: George Selwood & Wayne Falla
TMO: Rowan Kitt
Citing Officer: Paul Hull
Harlequins v Worcester Warriors
Referee: Sara Cox
ARs: Jack Makepeace & Rob Warburton
TMO: Stuart Terheege
Citing Officer: Dane Zamboulis
London Irish v Sale Sharks
Referee: Wayne Barnes
ARs: Andrew Jackson & Jamie Leahy
TMO: Tom Foley
Citing Officer: Buster White
England – RFU Championship
Jersey Reds v Bedford Blues
Referee: Mike Hudson
ARs: Michael Woods & Peter Brunt
Doncaster Knights v London Scottish
Referee: Joe James
ARs: Darryl Chapman & Gregg Dawson
Hartpury University v Cornish Pirates
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
ARs: Ian Bibey & Nick Marshall
Ampthill v Coventry
Referee: Andrew Jackson
ARs: Fergus Kirby & Nick Wood
Richmond v Nottingham
Referee: Alex Thomas
ARs: Simon Adams & Simon Park
New Zealand – Bunnings Warehouse NPC
Tasman v Waikato
Referee: Nick Briant
ARs: Steff James & Ben Alexander
Manawatu v Northland
Referee: Paul Williams Nick Hogan
ARs: Matt McEwen & Sam Couper
TMO: Carl Baker
Wellington v Hawke’s Bay
Referee: Stu Curran
ARs: Jack Sargentina & Ryan McLean
TMO: Jared Clarke
Southland v Canterbury
Referee: James Doleman
ARs: Sam Nicholson & Taylor Swan
TMO: Kirk Rae
Bay of Plenty v Taranaki
Referee: Mike Fraser
ARs: Nick Briant & Cam Russell
TMO: Shane McDermott
New Zealand – Farah Palmer Cup
Otago v Canterbury
Referee: Cassie Watt
ARs: Brandon Hale & Mike Buttery
Bay of Plenty v Wellington
Referee: Stu Catley
ARs: Estelle Whaiapu & Neco Blank
Taranaki v Hawke’s Bay
Referee: Tiana Ngawati
ARs: Trent Mischefski & Chris Morrison
Tasman v Manawatu
Referee: Taneika Uerata
ARs: Reece Weir & Moeka Koyama
New Zealand – Heartland Championship
East Coast v Thames Valley
Referee: Tipene Cottrell
ARs: Jackson Rueben-Swinton & Matt Richards
Horowhenua-Kapiti v North Otago
Referee: Ben Woolerton
ARs: Sam Thompson & Mike McNamara
King Country v West Coast
Referee: Mike Winter
ARs: Chris Cowie & Mike Ward
Mid Canterbury v Whanganui
Referee: Jono Bredin
ARs: Glenn Peddie & Sam O’Reilly
Poverty Bay v Buller
Referee: Daniel Moore
ARs: Royce Maynard & Mark Greene
South Canterbury v Wairarapa-Bush
Referee: Fraser Hannon
ARs: Josh Rooney & T. Scannell
Scotland – Super 6
Southern Knights v Heriot’s Rugby
Ref: Ben BLAIN
ARs: Ross MABON & Samuel O’NEIL
Boroughmuir Bears v Ayrshire Bulls
Ref: David SUTHERLAND
ARs: David CHANGLENG & Bob NEVINS
Stirling County v Watsonians Rugby
Ref: Ian KENNY
ARs: Keith ALLEN & Michael TODD
Scotland – Tennent’s Premiership
Aberdeen Grammar Rugby v Jed Forest
Ref: Tom FRENCH
ARs: Stephen GREENHILL & Andrew LAING
Edinburgh Academical v Hawick
Ref: Jonny PERRIAM
ARs: Gordi REID & Willie ANDERSON
GHA v Marr
Ref: Ruairidh CAMPBELL
ARs: Gordon GALASHAN & Brian MCGUFF
Glasgow Hawks v Musselburgh
Ref: Ross MABON
ARs: Stuart WRIGHT & Allan PARRY
Selkirk v Currie Chieftains
Ref: Michael TODD
ARs: Scott CUBITT & Kevin MCGHEE
Scotland – Tennents Womens Premier League
Cartha Queens Park WRFC v Watsonians WRFC
Ref: Gordon GALASHAN
ARs: Stuart WRIGHT & Digby THOMAS
Heriots Blues Women v Corstorphine Cougars WRFC
Ref: Stuart BURNS
ARs: Gregor MCINTOSH & Walter GAFFNEY
Hillhead Jordanhill WRFC v Stirling County WRFC
Ref: Ciaran STARK
ARs: Johnathan COCKAYNE & Duncan PINE
France – Top 14 – Round 4
Stade Français Paris v Castres
Referee: Luc Ramos
ARs: R.Poite & F.Chazal
TMO: P.Bonhoure
Pau v Montpellier
Referee: Patrick Nuchy
ARs: M.Raynal & G.Elias
TMO: E.Gauzins
Union Bordeaux-Bègles v Brive
Referee: Cedric Marchat
ARs: A.MARBOT & C.Coussan
TMO: T.Charabas
La Rochelle v Biarritz
Referee: Vincent Blasco baque
ARs: F.Hourquet & TBC
TMO: P.Dellac
Racing 92 v Lyon
Referee: Adrien Descottes
ARs: S.Coulon & T.Mallet
TMO: L.Sclafer
Perpignan v Toulon
Referee: Pierre Brousset
ARs: S.Minery & C.Bats
TMO: A.Hadj bachir
Toulouse v Clermont
Referee: Max Chalon
ARs: V.Praderie & S.Crapoix
TMO: P.Pechambert
France – ProD2 – Round 5
RC Vannes v Oyonnax Rugby
Referee: J.LESPES
ARs: Q.Janicot & W.Prache
TMO: S.Boyer
Provence Rugby v Normandie
Referee: P.Bru
ARs: M.Noirot & M.Gharbi tarchouna
TMO: D.Grenouillet
Narbonne v Stade Aurillacois
Referee: J.Dufort
ARs: M.Rouquie & P.Vitrac
TMO: A.Blondel
Stade Montois Rugby v Agen
Referee: N.Datas
ARs: T.Santamaria & P.Puharre
TMO: M.Zitouni
Colomiers v US Montalbanaise
Referee: L.Cardona
ARs: H.Lasausa lespy labaylette & R.Duhau
TMO: B.Bessot
Bressane v Carcassonne
Referee: B.Hernandez
ARs: F.Bouzac & F.Masse
TMO: J.Rebollal
Béziers v Nevers
Referee: V.Praderie
ARs: T.Chereque & C.Bultet
TMO: J.ROZIER
Grenoble v Bayonne
Referee: D.Beun
ARs: S.Desvaux & B.Gabaldon
TMO: C.Berdos
