The big match of the weekend will be in Brisbane where another Rugby World Cup 23 slot will be finalised under the watchful eye of referee Damon Murphy (pic top left). After winning the Asia Cup, Hong Kong will be up against the more familiar RWC team, Tonga.
The winner will become the 19th team to secure their place and join Pool B alongside South Africa, Ireland, Scotland and Romania. The losing side will have one more chance to qualify, competing in the Dubai-hosted Final Qualification Tournament against Portugal, Kenya and the USA in November.
Elsewhere, the women’s international teams start their series of warm up matches with Amber McLachlan (bottom left) and Sara Cox (top right) overseeing matches in Japan and Canada respectively. The only other games are in Europe with U18s 7s, and in New Zealand where the Farah Palmer Cup continues. Taneika Uerata (bottom right) referees in Hawke’s Bay.
Enjoy the weekend
Keith
Rugby World Cup Qualifier – Asia/Pacific 1
Tonga v Hong Kong (played in Brisbane)
Referee: Damon Murphy (RA)
ARs: Nic Berry (RA) & Graham Cooper (RA)
TMO: James Leckie (RA)
RWC21 Warm up games
Japan v South Africa
Referee: Amber McLachlan (RA)
ARs: Shuhei Kubo (JRFU) & (JRFU)
Canada v Italy
Referee: Sara Cox (RFU)
ARs: Julianne Zussman (RC) & Kat Roche (USAR)
TMO: Chris Assmus (RC)
NZ: Farah Palmer Cup
Canterbury v Auckland
Referee: Dan Moore
ARs: George Haswell & Gareth Reed
Taranaki v North Harbour
Referee: Cassie Watt
ARs: Will Johnston & Chris Morrison
Hawke’s Bay v Otago
Referee: Taneika Uerata
ARs: Stu Catley & Josh Strong
Northland v Tasman
Referee: Larissa Woolerton
ARs: Nathan Chestnut & Jaco Cronje
Manawatu v Bay Of Plenty
Referee: Will Johnston
ARs: Matty McEwen & Ben Koch
Counties Manukau v Wellington
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr
ARs: Robert Shore & John Wright
Rugby Europe 7s – U18s
Girls Championships (Prague) – Referees: Maria Heitor (POR), Antonia Nussbaumer (GER), Hana
Radochova (CZE), Maria Latos (FRA), Melissa Leboeuf (FRA), Adèle Robert (BEL)
Boys Trophy (Riga) – Referees: Romain Rouzairol (NOR), Niculae Fratila (ROM), Diogo Inacio (POR), Mihailo Marjanovic (SRB), Vlas Ilnitsyi (UKR), Edwin Vanderspek (NED), Nils Boyer (SWE) & Nathan Geerink (BEL)