It’s a gap week in the Six Nations, but that means we have a host of domestic leagues back in play this weekend, and the referees, ARs and TMOs also take to the field in the US MLR which returns for a new season. Jonathan Kapan head of match officials for MLR will again be bringing in referees from around the world, but round one sees domestic officials leading out. Canada’s Chris Assmus (bottom left) will be in Seattle who host Rugby New York. Further South, there’s an updated Super Rugby Americas with six teams from across South America with the Glendale Raptors joining from the US. The referees are all below too – Argentina’s Damian Schneider kicks things off in Córdoba as the Dogos host Paraguay’s Yacare.
In continental Europe, the Rugby Europe Championships continues with men’s and women’s matches taking place. French referee, Melissa Leboeuf (bottom right) is in Barcelona as Spain Women host the Netherlands
We’ve also got the match officials in action across the Gallagher Premiership, Allianz Premier 15s, RFU Championship, URC, France’s Top 14 & ProD2 as well as the Welsh Indigo Premiership. In the Welsh capital, Elfyn Morris Roberts (pic top right) will oversee the top v bottom match when Cardiff host Llanelli.
Enjoy the weekend.
Keith
Rugby Europe Championship – Men’s (Round 3)
Germany v Netherlands
Referee: Alexandru Ionescu (ROU)
ARs: Robert Diaconescu (ROU) & Vlad Iordachescu (ROU)
Spain v Georgia
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRL)
ARs: Paul Haycock (IRL) & Andrew Fogarty (IRL)
Poland v Belgium
Referee: Inigo Atorrasagasti (ESP)
ARs: Jon Ibisate (ESP) & Pablo Pascaul (ESP)
Rugby Europe Championship – Women’s
Spain v Netherlands
Referee: Melissa Leboeuf (FRA)
ARs: Alexandra Ferre (FRA) & Bérénice Loubet-Bralley (FRA)
US MLR – round 1
ATL Rugby v Toronto Arrows
Referee: Scott Green
ARs: Dave Edwards & Bryan Hall
TMO: Nick Hannon
NOLA Gold v New England Free Jacks
Referee: Cisco Lopez
ARs: Allen Alongi & Rob Halcomb
TMO: Amelia Luciano
Old Glory DC v Chicago Rugby
Referee: Federico Anselmi
ARs: Craig Sakowski & Ian Seaton
TMO: Nick Hannon
San Diego Legion v Utah Warriors
Referee: Luke Rogan
ARs: Marquise Goodwin & Jacob Gonzales
TMO: Derek Summers
Seattle Seawolves v Rugby New York
Referee: Chris Assmus
ARs: Brad Schwalger & Clint Lemkus
TMO: TBC
Dallas Jackals v Houston Sabercats
Referee: Moe Chaudhry
ARs: Drew Low & Justin Hale
TMO: Derek Summers
Super Rugby Americas – Round 1
Dogos v Ycare
Referee: Damian Schneider
ARs: Caua Ricardo & Juan Pablo Chumbita
TMO: Martin Gonzalez Deibe
Selknam v American Raptors
Referee: Gonzalo de Achaval
ARs: Juan Manuael Martinez & Sebastian Toledo
TMO: Ignacio Calle
Cobras Brasil v Pampas
Referee: Nehuen Jauri Rivero
ARs: Simon Larrubia & Lucas Sacommanno
TMO: Marcelo Pilara
BKT United Rugby Championship – Round 14
Glasgow Warriors v Ulster
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU, 41st league game)
ARs: Jonny Perriam (SRU) & Ru Campbell (SRU)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)
Munster v Ospreys
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 21st league game)
ARs: Dan Carson (IRFU) & Padraic Reidy (IRFU)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)
Emirates Lions v Cell C Sharks
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni (SARU, 5th league game)
ARs: Morne Ferreira (SARU) & Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
Vodacom Bulls v DHL Stormers
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU, 16th league game)
ARs: AJ Jacobs (SARU) & Griffon Colby (SARU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
Zebre Parma v Connacht
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 88th league game)
ARs: Clara Munarini (FIR) & Francesco Meschini (FIR)
TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU)
Scarlets v Edinburgh Rugby
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 31st league game)
ARs: Jason Bessant (WRU) & Simon Mills (WRU)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
Cardiff Rugby v Benetton
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 28th league game)
ARs: Adam Jones (WRU) & Stephen Allsop (WRU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Leinster v Dragons RFC
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 68th league game)
ARs: Oisin Quinn (IRFU) & Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: Dave Sutherland (SRU)
England: Gallagher Premiership – Round 17
Bristol Bears v Newcastle Falcons
Referee: Karl Dickson
ARs: Craig Maxwell-Keys & Phil Watters
TMO: Dean Richards
Citing Commissioner: Matt Banahan
Gloucester Rugby v Harlequins
Referee: Luke Pearce
ARs: Sara Cox & Alex Thomas
TMO: Stuart Terheege
Citing Commissioner: Duncan Bell
Northampton Saints v Sale Sharks
Referee: Ian Tempest
ARs: Nick Wood & Jamie Leahy
TMO: Claire Hodnett
Citing Commissioner: Brian Campsall
Bath Rugby v London Irish
Referee: Wayne Barnes
ARs: Anthony Woodthorpe & Wayne Falla
TMO: Rowan Kitt
Citing Commissioner: Jay Curts
Leicester Tigers v Saracens
Referee: Tom Foley
ARs: Mike Hudson & Jonathan Healy
TMO: David Rose
Citing Commissioner: Andy Blyth
RFU Championship
Jersey Reds v Nottingham
Referee: Hamish Smales
ARs: Simon Park & Ian Bibey
Hartpury University v Ealing Trailfinders
Referee: Mike Hudson
ARs: Ryan Collier & Kevin Williams
London Scottish v Coventry
Referee: Hamish Grant
ARs: Veryan Boscawen & Mike Woods
Ampthill v Cornish Pirates
Referee: Jonathan Cook
ARs: James Pidding & Andrew Ashwell
Caldy v Richmond
Referee: Charlie Gayther
ARs: John Meredith & Peter Allan
Bedford Blues v Doncaster Knights
Referee: Simon Harding
ARs: James Cornell & Gareth Holsgrove
Allianz Premier 15s
Saracens Women v Harlequins Women
Referee: Christophe Ridley
ARs: Joe James & Lionel Spooner
Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC v Wasps Women
Referee: Neil Chivers
ARs: Dean Richards & Kevin Williams
University of Worcester Warriors Women v Exeter Chiefs Women
Referee: Harry Walbaum
ARs: Calum Howard & Peter Brunt
Loughborough Lightning v Sale Sharks Women
Referee: George Selwood
ARs: Kasey Allen & James Clarke
DMP Sharks v Bristol Bears Women
Referee: Jack Makepeace
ARs: Nia Parsonage & Alan Hughes
ProD2 – round 21
SU Agen v Provence Rugby
Referee: Pierre Brousset
ARs: KEVIN BRALLEY & Christian Coussan
TMO: Cedric Marchat
Stade Montois Rugby v RC Vannes
Referee: Benjamin Hernandez
ARs: L.Carrillo & S.Desvaux
TMO: C.Berdos
Biarritz Olympique PB v Rouen Normandie Rugby
Referee: Pierre Bru
ARs: L.Sacarot & D.Dayre
TMO: J.Castaignede
AS Béziers Hérault v USON Nevers
Referee: Herve Lasausa lespy labaylette
ARs: T.Chereque & B.Escoubet
TMO: M.Zitouni
US Montalbanaise v Oyonnax Rugby
Referee: Evan URRUZMENDI
ARs: S.Coulon & B.Lapassade
TMO: N.Datas
US Carcassonne v Soyaux-Angoulême XV
Referee: Cyrille BOULAY
ARs: M.Noirot & C.Gaillardon
TMO: J.ROZIER
RC Massy Essonne v Stade Aurillacois
Referee: David Beun
ARs: A.Darche & F.Hand
TMO: E.Gauzins
FC Grenoble Rugby v Colomiers Rugby
Referee: Aurelie GROIZELEAU
ARs: J.LESPES & C.Bultet
TMO: P.Pechambert
Top 14 – round 18
Aviron Bayonnais v Stade Français Paris
Referee: TBC
ARs: TBC
TMO: TBC
Racing 92 v CA Brive
Referee: Benoit Rousselet
ARs: J.Gasnier & M.Gharbi tarchouna
TMO: S.Minery
LOU Rugby v Montpellier Hérault Rugby
Referee: Thomas Charabas
ARs: T.Trainini & L.Millotte
TMO: D.Grenouillet
USA Perpignan v Section Paloise
Referee: Luc Ramos
ARs: K.BRALLEY & Arbitre nº4
TMO: P.Bonhoure
Castres Olympique v Stade Rochelais
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
ARs: F.Hourquet & F.Masse
TMO: J.Rebollal
RC Toulon v Stade Toulousain
Referee: Pierre Baptiste Nuchy
ARs: A.Descottes & S.Crapoix
TMO: A.Hadj bachir
Union Bordeaux-Bègles v ASM Clermont
Referee: Vincent Blasco baque
ARs: P.Brousset & T.Mallet
TMO: E.BRIQUET CAMPIN
Wales: Indigo Welsh Premiership
Merthyr RFC v Aberavon RFC
Referee: Adam Jones
ARs: Simon Rees & Amber Stamp-Dunston
TMO: Wayne Davies
Cardiff RFC v Llanelli RFC
Referee: Elfyn Morris Roberts
ARs: Carwyn Williams & Mark Jones
Newport RFC v Swansea RFC
Referee: Steffan Edwards
ARs: Kristoff Young & Stuart Kibble
Ebbw Vale RFC v Bridgend RFC
Referee: Rhys Jones
ARs: Jason Griffiths & Simon Harris
RGC1404 v Llandovery RFC
Referee: Mike English
ARs: Ben Connor & Craig Roberts
Pontypridd RFC v Carmarthen Quins RFC
Referee: Elgan Williams
ARs: Mark Butcher & Karim Cosslett
Super Rugby – warm ups
Highlanders v Moana Pasifika
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
ARs: Stu Curran & Jackson Henshaw
Chiefs v Blues
Referee: Paul Williams
ARs: Dan Waenga & Mike Winter
Hurricanes v Crusaders
Referee: Brendon Pickerill
ARs: Angus Mabey & Marcus Playle
South Africa: Currie Cup 1st Division
Leopards v EP Elephants
Referee: Ruhan Meiring
Border Bulldogs v Valke
Referee: Phumzile Mbewu
SWD Eagles v Boland Cavaliers
Referee: Christopher Allison
It is worrying how few women refs and a/rs are in the above list (especially when there are women’s matches.
We had a similar thought. But, it takes time to bring referees through the system (of any gender) – The good news is, that with recent (& ongoing) campaigns to attract more women in the game, the pipeline is strong. If it’s the same in 5 years time, then we need to ask questions as to why!