It’s another finals-filled weekend, and referees Andrea Piardi (pic top left), Luke Pearce (bottom left), Thomas Charabas, Rebecca Rees, Calum Howard, Hervé Lasausa and Liam Wright all have a final medal waiting for them as well as the players on the pitch. They’ll be in charge of the URC, English Premiership & County Championships, ProD2, French Nationale and Netherlands Ereklasse respectively.
In Almaty, Christabelle Lim from Singapore (top right) will oversee the final of the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship where Japan will play Kazakhstan who beat Hong Kong China earlier in the week.
It’s the penultimate regular round of the Super Rugby season this weekend. The league leaders from Hamilton, the Chiefs, head to Canberra to visit the Bumbies – Nic Berry will oversee that one. It’s James Doleman 100th 15’s first-class fixture on Saturday when he controls the Crusaders v Waratahs match – nice one James! Over in the US, Kat Roche (bottom right) will celebrate her appointment to the u20s Trophy with a run out in Boston as the New England Free Jacks host Toronto.
We’ve also got the match officials for the traditional end-of-season BaaBaas match as they play a Rest of the World XV in London. Tom Foley escapes from his TV truck to referee that one. There’s full run-through of Premier 15s in England as well as the final round of Top14 in France, plus Currie Cup action in South Africa too.
I know a lot of readers in England (and Europe) are heading to the Bournemouth 7s event this weekend – enjoy if you’re there, or wherever you end up
Keith
Asia Rugby Women’s Championship
Japan v Kazakhstan
Referee: Christabelle Lim (Singapore)
ARs: Leow Wei Liang (Singapore) & Yuliya Ignatenko (Uzbekistan)
Rugby Africa Women’s Championship
Kenya v Cameroon
Referee: Maria Heitor (Port)
ARs: Julie Randriarimanana & Stephane
South Africa v Madagascar
Referee: Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe)
ARs: Bineta Sene (Senegal) & Julie Randriarimanana
Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship
Samoa v Tonga (Fri 26th)
Referee: Lavenia Racaca (Fiji)
Tues 30:
Samoa v Papua New Guinea
Referee: Lavenia Racaca (Fiji)
Fiji v Tonga
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (Aus)
Internationals
Barbarians v Rest of the World (at Twickenham)
Referee: Tom Foley
ARs: Adam Leal & Anthony Woodthorpe
New Zealand U20 v Australia U20
Referee: Reuben Keane
ARs: Jack Sargentina & Tomas Roche
Rugby Europe Trophy 2023/24 Access Play-off
Czechia v Israel
Referee: Ethan Glass (Swi)
ARs: Kevin Jalibat (Swi) & Paul Timmins (Swi)
BKT United Rugby Championship final
DHL Stormers v Munster (in Cape Town)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
ARs: Mike Adamson (SRU) & Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
England: Gallagher Premiership Final
Saracens v Sale Sharks
Referee: Luke Pearce
ARs: Karl Dickson & Christophe Ridley
TMO: Tom Foley
England: Allianz Premier 15s
Exeter Chiefs Women v Wasps Women
Referee: Katherine Ritchie
ARs: Simon Adams & Christopher Bartlett
Sale Sharks Women v Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC
Referee: Iain Kiy
ARs: Rebecca Rees & Peter Brunt
Loughborough Lightning v University of Worcester Warriors Women
Referee: Becky Piddlesden
ARs: Jeff Highcock & Nia Parsonage
Harlequins Women v DMP Sharks
Referee: Neil Chivers
ARs: Ian Bibey & Kasey Allen
Saracens Women v Bristol Bears Women
Referee: Charlie Gayther
ARs: Jonathan Cook & James Pidding
England: County Finals
Gill Burns Div 1 county final (Women’s)
Buckinghamshire v Lancashire
Referee: Rebecca Rees
ARs: Nia Parsonage & Emily Hope
Bill Beaumont Div 1 County final (Men’s)
Kent v Lancashire
Referee: Calum Howard
ARs: Peter Connor & Dave Philpot
Netherlands: Ereklasse Final
Haagsche RC v RC Eemland
Referees: Liam Wright
ARs: Gert Visser & Phila Bitterhout
France: ProD2 Final
Oyannax v FC Grenoble
Referee: Thomas Charabas (Nouvelle Aquitaine)
ARs: Vincent Blasco Baque & Flavien Hourquet (Occitanie)
TMO: Denis Grenouillet (Occitanie)
France: Le Nationale – Final
Dax v Valence-Romans
Referee: Hervé Lasausa (Nouvelle Aquitaine)
ARs: Pierre Bru and Christian Coussan (Occitanie)
In-Goal judges: Benoit Lapassade (Occitanie) & Sylvain Jayme (Nouvelle Aquitaine)
France: Top 14 – round 26
Section Paloise v Montpellier Hérault Rugby
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
ARs: J.Gasnier & B.Escoubet
TMO: P.Bonhoure
Stade Toulousain v CA Brive
Referee: Sebastien Minery
ARs: T.Charabas & P.Puharre
TMO: C.Berdos
ASM Clermont v Racing 92
Referee: Vivien Praderie
ARs: L.Cayre & C.Bats
TMO: E.BRIQUET CAMPIN
Stade Rochelais v Stade Français Paris
Referee: Pierre Baptiste Nuchy
ARs: P.Brousset & N.ROCHE
TMO: N.Datas
RC Toulon v Union Bordeaux-Bègles
Referee: Adrien MARBOT
ARs: D.Beun & S.Crapoix
TMO: C.Lafon
Castres Olympique v USA Perpignan
Referee: Luc Ramos
ARs: J.ROZIER & N.Bridoux
TMO: P.Dellac
LOU Rugby v Aviron Bayonnais
Referee: Tual Trainini
ARs: B.Rousselet & D.Dayre
TMO: E.Gauzins
Major League Rugby – Round 15
New England Free Jacks v Toronto Arrows
Referee: Kat Roche
ARs: Amelia Luciano & Jarrod Ford
TMO: Austin Reed
Old Glory DC v Seattle Seawolves
Referee: Luke Rogan
ARs: Aaron Davis & Craig Sakowski
TMO: Nick Hannon
Houston Sabercats v Chicago Rugby
Referee: Kahlil Harrison
ARs: Brian Dusablon & Jono Cooper
TMO: Derek Summers
Utah Warriors v ATL Rugby
Referee: Scott Green
ARs: Marquise Goodwin & Justin Canova
TMO: Nick Hannon
San Diego Legion v Rugby New York
Referee: Joe James
ARs: Jack Gohl & Alexis Alfaro
TMO: Derek Summers
Super Rugby – Round 14
Highlanders v QLD Reds
Referee: Brendon Pickerill
ARs: Angus Mabey & Marcus Playle
TMO: Glenn Newman
Melbourne Rebels v Western Force
Referee: Dan Waenga
ARs: Paul Williams & Mike Winter
TMO: Richard Kelly
Fijian Drua v Moana Pasifika
Referee: Jordan Way
ARs: Graham Cooper & Tevita Rokovereni
TMO: Brett Cronan
Crusaders v NSW Waratahs
Referee: James Doleman
ARs: Jono Bredin & Fraser Hannon
TMO: Chris Hart
Blues v Hurricanes
Referee: Angus Gardner
ARs: Reuben Keane & Stu Curran
TMO: Shane McDermott
ACT Brumbies v Chiefs
Referee: Nic Berry
ARs: Damon Murphy & Matt Kellahan
TMO: James Leckie
Currie Cup Premiers Division – Round 12
NovaVit Griffons v Cell C Sharks
Referee: Christopher Allison
DHL Western Province v Fidelity ADT Lions
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Toyota Cheetahs v Windhoek Draught Griquas
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Airlink Pumas v Vodacom Bulls
Referee: Griffin Colby