Some big domestic games around the globe this weekend as seasons start to head to their respective climaxes. In the URC, there’s plenty of still up for grabs in terms of league positions, but also a chance for Eoghan Cross (pic top left) to make his debut as Cardiff head to Benetton. Congrats Eoghan!
In the France there’s still three matches left in the Top 14 with a handful of sides trying to sneak up on leaders Montpellier. Racing (in 4th) will travel south with Pierre Brousset refereeing. In the ProD2 – Luc Ramos and Jonathan Dufort will oversee playoff matches to determine who will play in the promotion semi-finals. Two from Nevers, Carcassonne, Oyonnax and Colomiers will go on to play Stade Montois or Bayonne next weekend.
And speaking of next weekend, Wayne Barnes and Luke Pearce have been appointed to the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals respectively. Congrats to the both.
Back to this weekend, we’re at the midpoint of Super Rugby. The Brumbies and the Blues top the table. Coincidentally, they play each other this weekend with Damon Murphy (top right) refereeing. We also have the World 7s refs (men’s and women’s comps in Toulouse), England’s Premiership, Premier 15s and Championship Cup (Craig Maxwell-Keys referees his last game as a professional referee at Twickenham as Quins host Gloucester), Scotlands Super 6s, and US WPL (Haley Aguiar (bottom right) gets a run out) and MLR appointments. Last but not least, there’s Currie Cup Women’s premiership referees too.
Enjoy the weekend
Keith
World Rugby 7s- Toulouse
Men’s – Nika Amushekeli (Geo), Adam Leal (Eng) Ben Breakspear (Wal), Jeremy Rozier (Fra), AJ Jacobs (SA), Gianluca Gnechi (Ita), Finlay Brown (Sco) & Craig Chan (HK)
Women’s – Hollie Davidson (Sco), Ashleigh Murray-Pretorius (SA), Katherine Ritchie (Eng), Julianne Zussman (Can), Eki Fanlo (Spain), Lauren Jenner (NZ)
URC – Round 18
Benetton v Cardiff Rugby
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, league debut)
ARs: Andrew Cole (IRFU) & Alberto Favaro (FIR)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Ulster v Cell C Sharks
Referee: Ben Blain (SRU, 20th league game)
ARs: Peter Martin (IRFU) & Paul Haycock (IRFU)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
Ospreys v Vodacom Bulls
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 22nd league game)
ARs: Ben Whitehouse (WRU) & Jason Bessant (WRU)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)
Dragons v Emirates Lions
Referee: Joy Neville (IRFU, 9th league game)
ARs: Dewi Phillips (WRU) & John Darcy (WRU)
TMO: Ian Davies (WRU)
Connacht v Zebre Parma
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU, 21st league game)
ARs: Dan Carson (IRFU) & Keane Davison (IRFU)
TMO: Colin Stanley (IRFU)
Scarlets v DHL Stormers
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 24th league game)
ARs: Gareth Newman (WRU) & Rhys Jones (WRU)
TMO: Wayne Davies (WRU)
Edinburgh Rugby v Glasgow Warriors
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 78th league game)
ARs: Ian Kenny (SRU) & Graeme Ormiston (SRU)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
Leinster v Munster
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU, 62nd league game)
ARs: Peter Martin (IRFU) & Oisin Quinn (IRFU)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)
Super Rugby Pacific – Round 14
Crusaders v Fijian Drua
Referee: Angus Mabey
ARs: Brendon Pickerill & Jono Bredin
TMO: Glenn Newman
QLD Reds v Moana Pasifika
Referee: Graham Cooper
ARs: Jordan Way & Reuben Keane
TMO: Brett Cronan
Chiefs v Western Force
Referee: James Doleman
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe & Dan Waenga
TMO: Chris Hart
Hurricanes v Melbourne Rebels
Referee: Paul Williams
ARs: Mike Fraser & Mike Winter
TMO: Richard Kelly
Brumbies v Blues
Referee: Damon Murphy
ARs: Angus Gardner & Jordan Way
TMO: James Leckie
Highlanders v Waratahs
Referee: Nic Berry
ARs: Brendon Pickerill & Angus Mabey
TMO: Chris Hart
Gallagher Premiership
Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Luke Pearce
ARs: Mike Hudson & Phil Watters
TMO: Tom Foley
Wasps v Sale Sharks
Referee: Ian Tempest
ARs: Sara Cox & Alex Thomas
TMO: Claire Hodnett
Harlequins v Gloucester Rugby
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
ARs: Jack Makepeace & Rob Warburton
TMO: David Rose
Bath Rugby v London Irish
Referee: Christophe Ridley
ARs: Nick Wood & Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: Tom Foley
Saracens v Northampton Saints
Referee: Matthew Carley
ARs: Greg Macdonald & John Meredith
TMO: Dean Richards
Newcastle Falcons v Leicester Tigers
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
ARs: Joe James & Wayne Falla
TMO: Hamish Smales
Allianz Premier 15’s Semi Finals
Saracens Women v Harlequins Women
Referee: Nikki O’Donnell
ARs: TBC & Ian Bibey
TMO: Dean Richards
Exeter Chiefs v Women Bristol Bears Women
Referee: Charlie Gayther
ARs: Simon Adams & Peter Brunt
TMO: Sara Cox
Championship Cup Final
Ealing Trailfinders v Coventry
Referee: Mike Hudson
ARs: Lionel Spooner & James Clarke
France: Top 14 – round 25
Union Bordeaux-Bègles v LOU Rugby
Referee: Tual Trainini
ARs: B.Rousselet & R.Duhau
TMO: E.BRIQUET CAMPIN
Biarritz Olympique PB v ASM Clermont
Referee: Vincent Blasco baque
ARs: J.Castaignede & P.Milani
TMO: P.Dellac
RC Toulon v Section Paloise
Referee: Laurent Cardona
ARs: T.Charabas & B.Gabaldon
TMO: C.Lafon
Stade Rochelais v Stade Français Paris
Referee: Vivien Praderie
ARs: S.Minery & C.Coussan
TMO: M.Zitouni
Montpellier Hérault Rugby v Racing 92
Referee: Pierre Brousset
ARs: L.Cayre & S.Crapoix
TMO: D.Grenouillet
CA Brive v Stade Toulousain
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
ARs: C.Marchat & C.Bats
TMO: P.Bonhoure
Castres Olympique v USA Perpignan
Referee: Adrien Marbot
ARs: A.Descottes & G.Elias
TMO: E.Gauzins
Pro D2 – Play offs for semi final place
USON Nevers v US Carcassonne
Referee: Luc Ramos
ARs: J.LESPES & T.Mallet
TMO: M.Zitouni
Oyonnax Rugby v Colomiers Rugby
Referee: Jonathan Dufort
ARs: H.Lasausa lespy labaylette & L.Millotte
TMO: B.Bessot
Women’s Currie Cup – Premier Division – round five
Boland Dames v Blue Bulls Women
Referee: Maria Mabote
Cell C Sharks Women v EP Queens
Referee: Angie Bezuidenhout
DHL Western Province v Border Ladies
Referee: Siyanda Pikoli
Scotland: Super 6s
Boroughmuir Bears v Southern Knights
Referee: Graeme Ormiston
ARs: Michael Todd & Ruairidh Campbell
Ayrshire Bulls v Watsonians
Referee: Jonny Perriam
ARs: Neil Muir & Alistair Watt
Stirling County v Heriots
Referee: David Sutherland
ARs: Sam O’Neil & Bob Nevins
US WPL
Beantown v Life West – Marty Steffens
North Shore v Berkeley– Jenny Lui
Zons v New York – Haley Aguiar
ORSU v San Diego – Shanda Assmus
US MLR – Round 16
Toronto Arrows v New England Free Jacks
Referee: Luke Rogan
ARs: Pete Pender & Chris Chopra Micheletti
TMO: Chris Assmus
Old Glory DC v Houston Sabercats
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Arg)
ARs: Aaron Davis & Craig Sakowski
TMO: Nick Hannon
NOLA Gold v San Diego Legion
Referee: George Selwood
ARs: Allen Alongi & Saade Bou Mikel
TMO: Derek Summers
Dallas Jackals v Los Angeles Giltinis
Referee: Chris Assmus
ARs: TBC & Cole Jones
TMO: Dave Ardrey
Utah Warriors v Austin Gilgronis
Referee: Paulo Duarte (Por)
ARs: Mike Lash & Kage Green
TMO: Austin Reed
Rugby New York v ATL Rugby
Referee: Marcus Playle
ARs: Lex Weiner & Henrique Platais
TMO: Nick Hannon