It’s not a total New Year rest for everyone, as the English and French referees are out in force over the weekend. Wayne Barnes (pic top right) clocks up his 250th Premiership match on Monday as London Irish host Bath. That’s quite some achievement in this day and age – congratulations!
Elsewhere, Maxime Chalon (top left) referees top-of-the-table Bordeaux who host bottom side Biarritz. And in Connacht, Chris Busby will be the man in the middle of one of two covid-surviving URC games. The officials for the Scarlets v Ospreys match have yet to be announced. Sara Cox (bottom left) is back on referee duties this weekend as Hartpury play Nottingham in the RFU Championship.
Interesting side note at Gloucester, where Tom Foley referees their match against Harlequins – his soon-to-be boss, Paul Hull will be the citing commissioner for that one.
Have a great 2022!
Keith
Gallagher Premiership – Round 11
Sale Sharks v Wasps (Sat)
Referee: Ian Tempest (98th Premiership match)
ARs: Hamish Smales & John Meredith
TMO: Claire Hodnett
Citing Officer: Budge Poutney
Exeter Chiefs v Bristol Bears (Sat)
Referee: Luke Pearce (121st Premiership match)
ARs: Dean Richards & Paul Dix
TMO: David Rose
Citing Officer: Andy Blyth
Northampton Saints v Saracens (Sun)
Referee: Adam Leal (13th Premiership match)
ARs: Jonathan Healy & George Selwood
TMO: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Citing Officer: Danae Zamboulis
Gloucester Rugby v Harlequins (Sun)
Referee: Tom Foley (107th Premiership match)
ARs: Christophe Ridley & Jamie Leahy
TMO: Rowan Kitt
Citing Officer: Paul Hull
Leicester Tigers v Newcastle Falcons (Sun)
Referee: Karl Dickson (51st Premiership match)
ARs: Anthony Woodthorpe & Dean Richards
TMO: Ian Tempest
Citing Officer: Jay Curts
London Irish v Bath Rugby (Mon)Referee: Wayne Barnes (250th Premiership match)ARs: Matthew Carley & Craig Maxwell-KeysTMO: Karl DicksonCiting Officer: John Byett
RFU Championship – round 13
Ampthill v London Scottish (Sat)
Referee: Jack Makepeace
ARs: Nick Marshall & James Clarke
Hartpury University v Nottingham (Sun)
Referee: Sara Cox
ARs: Ian Bibey & Ryan Collier
Doncaster Knights v Bedford Blues (Sat)Referee: Nick WoodARs: Adam Wookey & Gregg Dawson
Richmond v Coventry – postponed
Ealing Trailfinders v Cornish Pirates – postponed
Top 14 – Round 13
Stade Français Paris v Perpignan (Sat)
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
ARs: A.Marbot & T.Mallet
TMO: A.Hadj bachir
Clermont v Toulouse (Sat)
Referee: Jonathan Dufort
ARs: M.Raynal & C.Bats
TMO: P.Pechambert
Pau v Brive (Sun)
Referee: Tual Trainini
ARs: C.Marchat & F.Masse
TMO: E. Briquet Campin
Bordeaux-Bègles v Biarritz (Sun)
Referee: Maxime Chalon
ARs: B.Rousselet & F.Chazal
TMO: L.Sclafer
Castres v La Rochelle (Sun)
Referee: Thomas Charabas
ARs: S.Minery & C.Coussan
TMO: P.Bonhoure
Lyon v Racing 92 (Sun)
Referee: Vivien Praderie
ARs: P.Brousset & S.Boyer
TMO: D.Grenouillet
Montpellier v Toulon (Sun)Referee: Pierre Baptiste NuchyARs: R.Poite & G.EliasTMO: P.Dellac
URC – Round 9
Connacht v Munster
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 15th league game)
ARs: Andy Brace (IRFU) & Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Scarlets v Ospreys
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU, 13th league game)
ARs: Ben Breakspear (WRU) & Rhys Jones (WRU)
TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU)
Dragons v Cardiff – Postponed
Benneton v Zebre Parma – Postponed
Edinburgh v Glasgow – Postponed
Ulster v Leinster – Postponed