With the southern hemisphere now on their collective summer breaks, our lists will now focus on the European world, plus our friends in Hong Kong. It’s the first weekend of European competition this weekend, with Champions Cup and Challenge Cup action. After the covid-interrupted appointments process last year, we’re now back to fully neutral teams of 4, rather than just neutral referees. It’s nice to see some new, yet familiar, names move up into Champions Cup action with Craig Evans (Wales pic top left), Andrea Piardi (Italy), Pierre Brousset (France) and Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) all in action in round 1. They join the usual names you may expect to see.
We also have the referees, ARs and TMOs from around the French ProD2 (Jeremy Rozier, top right, referees the top side Stade Montois), England’s Premier 15s and RFU Championship, as well as Hong Kong and Scotland’s men’s Premierships too. Plus, there’s a batch of Rugby Europe Super Cup matches being played too.
Two names you might spot here are in the ‘wrong’ country. Aurelie Groizeleau (pic bottom right) of France is over in England refereeing the top of the table Premier 15s match, and in the RFU Championship, you might recognise the name of Dan Jones, formerly of the Pro14, who is now plying his trade across the Severn Bridge. This weekend, he takes charge of Jersey who host Coventry.
Enjoy your rugby this weekend
Keith
European Champions Cup – Round 1
Northampton Saints v Racing 92
Referee: Mike Adamson (Sco)
ARs: Ben Blain (Sco) & Ian Kenny (Sco)
TMO: Hollie Davidson (Sco)
Cardiff Rugby v Stade Toulouse
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
ARs: Michael Hudson (Eng) & John Meredith (Eng)
TMO: Craig Maxwell-Keys (Eng)
Union Bordeaux-Bègles v Leicester Tigers
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ire)
ARs: Eoghan Cross (Ire) & Oisin Quinn (Ire)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ire)
Leinster Rugby v Bath Rugby
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
ARs: Luc Ramos (Fra) & Flavien Hourquet (Fra)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
Clermont Auvergne v Ulster Rugby
Referee: Wayne Barnes (Eng)
ARs: Hamish Smales (Eng) & Jamie Leahy (Eng)
TMO: Tom Foley (Eng)
Exeter Chiefs v Montpellier
Referee: Craig Evans (Wal)
ARs: Adam Jones (Wal) & Rhys Jones (Wal)
TMO: Ian Davies (Wal)
Ospreys v Sale Sharks
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
ARs: Manuel Bottino (Ita) & Filippo Russo (Ita)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Ita)
Connacht Rugby v Stade Francais Paris
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
ARs: Anthony Woodthorpe (Eng) & Paul Dix (Eng)
TMO: David Rose (Eng)
Wasps v Munster
Referee: Romain Poite (Fra)
ARs: Vincent Blasco Baqué (Fra) & Stephane Boyer (Fra)
TMO: Denis Grenouillet (Fra)
La Rochelle v Glasgow Warriors
Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng)
ARs: Tom Foley (Eng) & Gareth Holsgrove (Eng)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
Castres Olympique v Harlequins
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
ARs: Shota Tevzadze (Geo) & Mathieu Raynal (Fra)
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure (Fra)
European Challenge Cup – round 1
Lyon v Gloucester Rugby
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
ARs: Federico Vedovelli (Ita) & Alex Frasson (Ita)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
Newcastle Falcons v Worcester Warriors
Referee: Frank Murphy (Ire)
ARs: Peter Martin (Ire) & Stuart Gaffikin (Ire)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ire)
Zebre Parma v Biarritz
Referee: Chris Busby (Ire)
ARs: Nigel Correll (Ire) & Dermot Blake (Ire)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ire)
Saracens v Edinburgh Rugby
Referee: Tual Trainini (Fra)
ARs: Benoit Rousselet (Fra) & Cedric Marchat (Fra)
TMO: Eric Briquet-Campin (Fra)
Perpignan v Dragons
Referee: Christophe Ridley (Eng)
ARs: Ian Tempest (Eng) & Andrew Jackson (Eng)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (Eng)
Pau v London Irish
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Sco)
ARs: Finlay Brown (Sco) & Graeme Ormiston (Sco)
TMO: Neil Paterson (Sco)
Rugby Europe Super Cup
Tel Aviv Heat v Lokomotiv Penza
Referee: Paulo DUARTE – (POR)
ARs: Eugeniu PROCOPI – (MDA) & Francisco SERRA – (POR)
Black Lion v Enisei
Referee: Alexandru IONESCU (ROU)
ARs: Cristian SERBAN (ROU) & Mihai VACARU (ROU)
Lusitanos v Delta
Referee: Ethan GLASS (SWI)
ARs: Yann BENOIT (SWI) & Paul TIMMINS (SWI)
Castilla y Leon Iberians v Brussels Devils
Referee: Gert VISSER (NED)
ARs: Rutger VAN FAASEN (NED) & Louis VAN GERWEN (NED)
Hong Kong – Dettol Hong Kong Men’s Premiership
DAC Kowloon v Kroll USRC Tigers
Referee: Matt Rodden (69th Prem appointment)
ARs: Morgan White & Craig Chan
Impact HK HKU Sandy Bay v Natixis HKFC
Referee: Sam Brown (5th Prem appointment)
ARs: Matt Rodden & Craig Chan
KPMG HK Scottish v Societe Generale Valley
Referee: Shane Barr (10th Prem appointment)
ARs: Stephen Copeman & Rory Crombie
Hong Kong – Dettol Hong Kong Women’s Premiership
DAC Kowloon Ladies v Societe Generale Valley RFC
Referee: Patrick Kwok (14th WPrem appointment)
ARs: Jacques Rossouw & Evans Lam
Natixis HKFC Ice v Gai Wu Falcons
Referee: Morgan White (13th WPrem appointment)
ARs: Patrick Kwok & Sunny Lee
SCAA Causeway Bay Phoenix v Kroll USRC Tigers Ladies
Referee: Jacques Rossouw (14th WPrem appointment)
ARs: Jan Tang & Nathan Gray
Scotland – Tennent’s Premiership
Currie Chieftains v Selkirk
Referee: Samuel O’NEIL
ARs: George POUNDER & Alistair WATT
Hawick v Edinburgh Academical
Referee: Ruairidh CAMPBELL
ARs: David CHANGLENG & Digby THOMAS
Jed Forest v Aberdeen Grammar Rugby
Referee: Ross MABON
ARs: TBC & Kevin MCGHEE
Marr v GHA
Referee: Jonny PERRIAM
ARs: Gordi REID & TBC
Musselburgh v Glasgow Hawks
Referee: Michael TODD
ARs: Calum WORSLEY & Bob NEVINS
France – Pro D2 – Round 14
FC Grenoble Rugby v Stade Montois Rugby
Referee: Jeremy Rozier
ARs: Jean Lespes & Christophe Bultet
TMO: Christophe Berdos
Colomiers Rugby v US Bressane
Referee: P.Nuchy
ARs: M.Noirot & B.Escoubet
TMO: P.Pechambert
Provence Rugby v Oyonnax Rugby
Referee: H.Lasausa lespy labaylette
ARs: L.Carrillo & M.Gharbi tarchouna
TMO: L.Sclafer
RC Narbonnais v US Carcassonne
Referee: A.MARBOT
ARs: E.URRUZMENDI & C.Gaillardon
TMO: B.Bessot
Stade Aurillacois v RC Vannes
Referee: P.Bru
ARs: S.Desvaux & S.Brayelle
TMO: J.Rebollal
USON Nevers v SU Agen
Referee: J.Castaignede
ARs: D.Beun & B.Gabaldon
TMO: J.Gasnier
AS Béziers Hérault v Rouen Normandie
Referee: M.Chalon
ARs: C.BOULAY & P.Milani
TMO: A.Hadj bachir
Bayonne v US Montalbanaise
Referee: L.Cayre
ARs: S.Coulon & N.ROCHE
TMO: M.Zitouni
England – RFU Championship
Ampthill v Cornish Pirates
Referee: Jack Makepeace
ARs: Dean Richards & Peter Brunt
Doncaster Knights v Nottingham
Referee: Sara Cox
ARs: Wayne Falla & Gregg Dawson
Richmond v Ealing Trailfinders
Referee: Joe James
ARs: James Clarke & Michael Woods
Bedford Blues v London Scottish
Referee: Harry Walbaum
ARs: Andrew Ashwell & Alex Thomas
Jersey Reds v Coventry
Referee: Dan Jones
ARs: Ian Bibey & Ryan Collier
England – Allianz Premier 15s
Exeter Chiefs Women v Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC
Referee: Ben Wood
ARs: Will Gilder & Andy Bickle
Worcester Warriors Women v Bristol Bears Women
Referee: Owen Taylor
ARs: David Watts-Boothby & Leonie Pryor
Wasps FC Ladies v DMP Durham Sharks
Referee: Holly Wood
ARs: Alex Rose & Matthew Shepherd
Loughborough Lightning v Sale Sharks Women
Referee: Katherine Ritchie
ARs: Matthew Astle & Rob Teare
Saracens Women v Harlequins Women
Referee: Aurelie Groizeleau (FFR)
ARs: Katherine Ritchie & Mel Sutton