It’s time for another round of anticipation as the referees, ARs and TMOs are in place for the European Champions and Challenge Cup round 3. Travel restrictions have been lifted and covid cases are levelling off, so let’s hope all matches actually take place this weekend. We’ll strike through the below if any fall by the wayside. If all goes to plan, Tual Trainini from France referees Cardiff at home to Harlequins.
The Currie Cup returns for a new season in South Africa and we welcome back referees Cwengile Jadezweni (bottom left), Jaco Peyper & AJ Jacobs (bottom right) who get the competition off the ground this weekend.
Sadly our friends in Hong Kong are back on lockdown, so there’s no matches there for the time being. But we do have the women’s premiership appointments from England and Scotland (Mary Pringle referees Watsonians in the Scottish Women’s Premiership), and the men’s Premiership in Scotland as the Championship in England.
Stay warm and safe, wherever you are this weekend
Keith
European Champions Cup – Round 3
Cardiff Rugby v Harlequins
Referee: Tual Trainini (Fra)
ARs: Benoit Rousselet (Fra) & Cedric Marchat (Fra)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
Wasps v Stade Toulousain
Referee: Chris Busby (Ire)
ARs: Keith Allen (Sco) & Dave Sutherland (Sco)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ire)
Castres Olympique v Munster Rugby
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
ARs: Hamish Smales (Eng) & Paul Dix (Eng)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (Eng)
Ospreys v Racing 92
Referee: Christophe Ridley (Eng)
ARs: Dean Richards (Eng) & Wayne Falla (Eng)
TMO: David Rose (Eng)
Connacht Rugby v Leicester Tigers
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (Fra)
ARs: Thomas Charabas (Fra) & Maxime Chalon (Fra)
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure (Fra)
Stade Rochelais v Bath Rugby
Referee: Craig Evans (Wal)
ARs: Elgan Williams (Wal) & Rhys Jones (Wal)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)
Exeter Chiefs v Glasgow Warriors
Referee: Romain Poite (Fra)
ARs: Vincent Blasco Baqué (Fra) & Stephane Boyer (Fra)
TMO: Denis Grenouillet (Fra)
Northampton Saints v Ulster Rugby
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
ARs: Luc Ramos (Fra) & Flavien Hourquet (Fra)
TMO: Eric Briquet-Campin (Fra)
Bristol Bears v Stade Francais Paris
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ire)
ARs: Eoghan Cross (Ire) & Oisin Quinn (Ire)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ire)
Leinster Rugby v Montpellier Hérault Rugby
Referee: Wayne Barnes (Eng)
ARs: Anthony Woodthorpe (Eng) & Jamie Leahy (Eng)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (Eng)
Union Bordeaux-Bègles v Scarlets
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
ARs: Mike Hudson (Eng) & John Meredith (Eng)
TMO: Tom Foley (Eng)
ASM Clermont Auvergne v Sale Sharks
Referee: Frank Murphy (Ire)
ARs: Peter Martin (Ire) & Dan Carson (Ire)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ire)
European Challenge Cup – Round 3
CA Brive v Section Paloise
Referee: Adrien Descottes (Fra)
ARs: Andrew Cole (Ire) & Paul Haycock (Ire)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ire)
Biarritz Olympique v Newcastle Falcons
Referee: Adam Jones (Wal)
ARs: Dewi Phillips (Wal) & Tom Spurrier (Wal)
TMO: Sean Brickell (Wal)
London Irish v Edinburgh Rugby
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
ARs: Federico Vedovelli (Ita) & Dario Merli (Ita)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
Benetton Rugby v Dragons
Referee: Ludovic Cayre (Fra)
ARs: Adrien Marbot (Fra) & Jonathan Gasnier (Fra)
TMO: Patrick Dellac (Fra)
Worcester Warriors v RC Toulon
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Sco)
ARs: Graeme Ormiston (Sco) & Ross Mabon (Sco)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Sco)
Perpignan v Lyon
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
ARs: Sebastien Minery (Fra) & Christophe Butlet (Fra)
TMO: Patrick Pechambert (Fra)
Carling Currie Cup – Premier division
Pumas v Vodacom Bulls
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
ARs: Aimee Barrett-Theron & tbc
TMO: Quinton Immelman
Toyota Cheetahs v Tafel Lager Griquas
Referee: Jaco Peyper
ARs: Griffin Colby & tbc
TMO: Ben Crouse
DHL Western Province v Sigma Lions
Referee: AJ Jacobs
ARs: Rasta Rasivhenge & tbc
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen
England: RFU Championship
Nottingham v Ealing Trailfinders
Referee: Jack Makepeace
ARs: Andrew Ashwell & Simon Park
Jersey Reds v Doncaster Knights
Referee: Sara Cox
ARs: Neil Chivers & Peter Brunt
Bedford Blues v Ampthill
Referee: Adam Leal
ARs: Dan Jones & James Clarke
Coventry v Hartpury University
Referee: Joe James
ARs: Ryan Collier & Gregg Dawson
London Scottish v Richmond
Referee: Nick Wood
ARs: Phil Watters & Chalie Gayther
Allianz Premier 15s
Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC v Sale Sharks Women
Referee: Callum Watson
ARs: Joe Binfield & Kevin Williams
DMP Durham Sharks v Bristol Bears Women
Referee: Rebecca Rees
ARs: Gavin Jones & Simon O’Neill
Loughborough Lightning v Saracens Women
Referee: Iain Kiy
ARs: Nick Borkett & Andrew Ashwell
Worcester Warriors Women v Wasps FC Ladies
Referee: Ben Wood
ARs: Harvey Knight & Brian Ravenhill
Exeter Chiefs Women v Harlequins Women
Referee: Harry Walbaum
ARs: Ben Simpson & Andy Bickle
Scotland: Tennents Womens Premier League
Heriots Blues Women v Cartha Queens Park WRFC
Referee: Gordon GALASHAN
ARs: TBC & Kevin MCGHEE
Hillhead Jordanhill WRFC v Corstorphine Cougars WRFC
Referee: Scott CUBITT
ARs: Walter GAFFNEYAR & Stephen WARD
Watsonians WRFC v Stirling County WRFC
Referee: Mary PRINGLE
ARs: Willie ANDERSON & Brian MCGUFF
Scotland: Tennent’s Premiership
Currie Chieftains v Glasgow Hawks
Referee: Jonny PERRIAM
ARs: Ciaran STARK & Colin GEORGE
GHA v Edinburgh Academical
Ref: Ben BLAIN
ARs: Lee FISH & Alistair WATT
Marr v Selkirk
Ref: Ruairidh CAMPBELL
ARs: Craig CLARK & Allan PARRY
Musselburgh v Jed Forest
Referee: Samuel O’NEIL
ARs: Sean NIVEN & Digby THOMAS
Keith, I be am AR2 on the DMP v Bristol game mate. It would have been great for father and son to have appeared on the same list. My son Samuel is with the SRU and in the middle for another Scottish premiership game. Not sure what Hughes’ is doing this weekend. Cheers
And lo, it came to pass!! Updated accordingly