Weekend referees, ARs & TMOs: 18-20 February

No Six Nations this weekend, so the big match takes place in Dubai as USA referee, Kat Roche (top left), takes charge of the Rugby World Cup qualifier game between Kazakhstan v Colombia. The winner of that will play Scotland Women next Friday for the final slot at Rugby World Cup 21 (played in 2022!) in New Zealand in the autumn. There’s also the Rugby Europe Women’s championship in Amsterdam as theNetherlands host Spain. France’s Doriane Domenjo (bottom left) will referee that one.

We welcome back our Australian and New Zealand friends this week as Super Rugby Pacifica resumes. They’ve ditched the Captains Challenge this year, but will keep the Golden Point extra time (for drawn matches at 80 mins) and the 20 minute red card. Media reports also suggest they are looking to mitigate against covid cancelations by allowing games to start without contested scrums if positive covid cases mean front row availability is compromised. Nic Berry, Jordan Way, Angus Gardner kick off the Australian pools, with Paul Williams, Brendan Pickerill on New Zealand/Fiji legs. Reuben Keane (Aus) and Angus Mabey (NZ) will make Super Rugby debut’s later in the tournament.

We’ve also got the French top leagues, English Premiership (men’s and women’s), Championship, the URC (nice to see Joy Neville back in the middle – [Edit: spoke to soon, game postponed!] and the US MLR (Federico Anselmi (bottom right) from Argentina is guesting this week). And finally, we have Scotland’s Premiership, the Currie Cup and the Malaysia top league too. Plenty to be keeping you all busy!

Stay safe out there!
Keith

RWC21 Qualifier

Kazakhstan v Colombia (in Dubai)
Referee: Kat Roche (USA)
ARs: Amber McLachlan (Aus) & Shanda Assmus (Can)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)

Rugby Europe Trophy

Germany v Belgium
Referee: Shota Tezvadze (GEO)
ARs: Soso Jafaridze (GEO) & Shoti Rsagareishvili (GEO)

Rugby Europe Women’s Championship

Netherlands v Spain
Referee: Doriane Domenjo (FRA)
ARs: Melissa Leboeuf (FRA) & Alexandra Ferre (FRA)

Super Rugby Pacific – round 1

Waratahs v Fijian Drua
Referee: Nic Berry
ARs: Reuben Keane & Matt Kellahan
TMO: James Leckie

Chiefs v Highlanders
Referee: Paul Williams
ARs: Angus Mabey & Fraser Hannon
TMO: Chris Hart

Crusaders v Hurricanes
Referee: Brendon Pickerill
ARs: Mike Fraser & Marcus Playle
TMO: James Doleman

Reds v Rebels
Referee: Angus Gardner
ARs: Damon Murphy & Nic Berry
TMO: Brett Cronan

Brumbies v Force
Referee: Jordan Way
ARs: Damon Murphy & Reuben Keane
TMO: James Leckie 

URC – round 12

Munster Rugby v Edinburgh
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 79th league game)
As: Chris Busby (IRFU) & Oisin Quinn (IRFU)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)

Cardiff Rugby v Zebre Parma
Referee: Joy Neville (IRFU, 9th league game)
ARs: Craig Evans (WRU) & Ben Breakspear (WRU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (WRU)

Leinster Rugby v Ospreys
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 13th league game)
ARs: Andrew Brace (IRFU) & Dan Carson (IRFU)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)

Scarlets v Connacht Rugby
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 60th league game)
ARs: Elgan Williams (WRU) & Jason Bessant (WRU)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)

Glasgow Warriors v Benetton
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU, 56th league game)
ARs: Keith Allen (SRU) & Dunx McClement (SRU)
TMO: Ben Blain (SRU)

Dragons v Ulster Rugby
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 20th league game)
ARs: Adam Jones (WRU) & Gareth Newman (WRU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Gallagher Premiership – round 17

Worcester Warriors v Bristol Bears
Referee: Wayne Barnes (252nd Premiership game)
ARs: Anthony Woodthorpe & Jamie Leahy
TMO: Rowan Kitt

Harlequins v Wasps
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (107th Premiership game)
ARs: Alex Thomas & John Meredith
TMO: David Rose

Northampton Saints v Sale Sharks
Referee: Tom Foley (111th Premiership game)
ARs: Matthew Carley & George Selwood
TMO: Anthony Woodhtorpe

Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers
Referee: Karl Dickson (56th Premiership game)
ARs: Luke Pearce & Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: Stuart Terheege

London Irish v Saracens
Referee: Hamish Smales (pictured, top right) (6th Premiership game)
ARs: Jack Makepeace & Greg Macdonald
TMO: Dean Richards

Newcastle Falcons v Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Christophe Ridley (52nd Premiership game)
ARs: Dan Jones & Wayne Falla
TMO: Claire Hodnett

RFU Championship

Ampthill v Richmond
Referee: Nick Wood
ARs: Charlie Gayther & Ian Bibey

Doncaster Knights v Hartpury University
Referee: Joe James
ARs: Peter Allan & Ryan Collier

Bedford Blues v Cornish Pirates
Referee: Andrew Jackson
ARs: Shane Lewis & Phil Watters

London Scottish v Nottingham
Referee: Michael Hudson
ARs: Simon Harding & Darryl Chapman

Jersey Reds v Ealing Trailfinders
Referee: Adam Leal
ARs: Simon Adams & Jonathan Healy

Allianz Premier 15’s

Wasps FC Ladies v Bristol Bears Women
Referee: Harry Walbaum
ARs: Phil Russell & Frank Venner

Worcester Warriors Women v DMP Durham Sharks
Referee: Leonie Pryor
ARs: Michael Hurdley & Mark Summerhayes

Saracens Women v Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC
Referee: Andy Wigley
ARs: Alex Powdrell & Matthew Shepherd

Loughborough Lightning v Exeter Chiefs Women
Referee: Dan Rowlands
ARs: Reece Riley & Jason Newell

Harlequins Women v Sale Sharks Women
Referee: Katherine Ritchie
ARs: Rebecca Rees & Nia Parsonage

US Major League Rugby – Round 3

Old Glory DC v New England Free Jacks
Referee: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)
ARs: Gavin McCandless & Aaron Davis
TMO: Luke Rogan

ATL Rugby v Rugby New York
Referee: Damian Schneider (Arg)
ARs: Cisco Lopez & Dave Edwards
TMO: Chris Assmus

NOLA Gold v Toronto Arrows
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Arg)
ARs: Allen Alongi & De Wet Roos
TMO: Nick Hannon

Austin Gilgronis v Utah Warriors
Referee: Mike Lash (NZ)
ARs: Joey Swatzell & Drew Low
TMO: Jack Gohl

Dallas Jackals v Houston Sabercats
Referee: Scott Green (USA)
ARs: Derek Summers & Cole Jones
TMO: Kahlil Harrison

San Diego Legion v Seattle Seawolves
Referee: JP Doyle (Sco)
ARs: Marquise Goodwin & Jacob Gonzales
TMO: Austin Reed

Top 14 – round 20

Pau v Toulouse
Referee: Benoit Rousselet
ARs: L.Cardona & L.Millotte
TMO: P.Bonhoure

Brive v Montpellier
Referee: Adrien Descottes
ARs: T.Charabas & F.Masse
TMO: P.Pechambert

Castres v Lyon
Referee: Romain Poite
ARs: P.Brousset & S.Boyer
TMO: D.Grenouillet

Toulon v Perpignan
Referee: Cedric Marchat
ARs: S.Minery & P.Puharre
TMO: J.Rebollal

Stade Français Paris v Biarritz
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
ARs: V.Blasco baque & S.Crapoix
TMO: E.BRIQUET CAMPIN

La Rochelle v ASM Clermont
Referee: Pierre Baptiste Nuchy
ARs: J.Dufort & C.Bats
TMO: P.Dellac

Union Bordeaux-Bègles v Racing 92
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
ARs: L.Ramos & C.Coussan
TMO: A.Hadj bachir

Pro D2

Colomier v Nevers
Referee: Mathieu Noirot
ARs: David Beun & Benoit Escoubet
TMO: Mourad Zitouni

RC Vannes v US Montalbanaise
Referee: Maxime Chalon
ARs: P.Bru & D.Dayre
TMO: J.Giraud

Provence Rugby v US Carcassonne
Referee: B.Hernandez
ARs: H.Lasausa lespy labaylette & F.Hand
TMO: B.Bessot

FC Grenoble Rugby v Stade Aurillacois
Referee: Amelie Groizeleau
ARs: J.LESPES & G.Elias
TMO: C.Berdos

RC Narbonnais v Rouen Normandie
Referee: Jonathan Gasnier
ARs: R.Carbonnel & TBC
TMO: L.Sclafer

US Bressane v SU Agen
Referee: Tual Trainini
ARs: F.Bouzac & C.Bultet
TMO: T.Chereque

AS Béziers Hérault v Aviron Bayonnais
Referee: S.Coulon
ARs: R.Guatelli & M.Lalaude
TMO: D.Beun

Stade Montois Rugby v Oyonnax Rugby
Referee: Jeremy Rozier
ARs: N.Datas & N.ROCHE
TMO: F.Hourquet

Scotland – Tennent’s Premiership

Aberdeen Grammar Rugby v Selkirk
Referee: Calum Worsley
ARs: Mary Pringle & Digby Thomas

Glasgow Hawks v Edinburgh Academical
Referee: Ben Blain
ARs: Greg Cameron & Brian McGuff

Jed Forest v GHA
Referee: Graeme Ormiston
ARs: Gordon Galashan & Willie Anderson

Marr v Hawick
Referee: Hollie Davidson
ARs: Calum Lazenby & Alistair Watt

Musselburgh v Currie Chieftains
Referee: Ross Mabon
ARs: Alex Obreja & Colin George

Malaysia – Putrajaya League

Kajang Rams v Asas RC
Referee: Muhd Alif Iman
ARs: Huzaifah Saidin & Muhd Amiruddin

XIIUM Stallions v SLRC
Referee: Tengku Mohd Fariz
ARs: Azizul Johafiezzal Johari & Irfan Sufyan

South Africa – Currie Cup – round 5

Tafel Lager Griquas v DHL Western Province
Referee: Jaco Peyper

Airlink Pumas v Toyota Cheetahs
Referee: Morné Ferreira

Sigma Lions vs Cell C Sharks
Referee: AJ Jacobs