Referee, AR, TMO appointments: 27-31 July

Big matches in the TRC this weekend and the Southern Hemisphere referees are out and about. Wayne Barnes (pic top left) is in Melbourne with an all-RFU team of 4 for the Bledisloe Cup game. They’re expecting a huge crowd to see if Eddie Jones’ team can pick themselves up after a slow TRC start. Andrew Brace (top right) heads south to J’burg where Argentina have travelled to play the Springboks.

In Nairobi, Georgia’s Saba Abulashvili (bottom left) will referee the final of the World Rugby u20s Trophy where Spain’s youngsters will face Uruguay. Go well Saba! The Farah Palmer Cup continues in New Zealand. Tiana Anderson (bottom right) is in charge of the Hawke’s Bay match as she continues her return to refereeing after maternity leave. She refereed the FPC final in 2021 and has officiated in the men’s Heartland and NPC comps too.

This weekend also sees the gradual build-up of RWC warm-up games. There’s a double-header in Uruguay where the hosts play Chile (Luke Pearce in the middle) before an Argentina XV play Namibia. Wales’ Craig Evans has the whistle for that one. Scotland host Italy at Murrayfield (Ben O’Keeffe in charge) and Japan and Tonga host Pacific island rivals with Matt Carley and Angus Gardner enjoying some warmer weather refereeing! Less warm, is Scotland, where the Super 6s kicks off again. Refs and ARs listed below!

Have a great weekend, whatever you’re watching
Keith

The Rugby Championship – Round 3

Australia v New Zealand (in Melbourne)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (Eng)
ARs: Karl Dickson (Eng) & Christophe Ridley (Eng)
TMO: Tom Foley (Eng)

South Africa v Argentina (in Johannesburg)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ire)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Chris Busby (Ire)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Aus)

World u20 Trophy 2023

USA u20 v Hong Kong China u20 – 7th/8th place play off
Referee: Precious Pazani (Zim)

Zimbabwe u20 v Kenya u20 – 5th/6th Place Play-Off
Referee: Sylvain Mane (Sen)

Scotland u20 v Samoa u20 – 3rd place play off
Referee: Robin Kaluzniak (Can)

Final

Uruguay u20 v Spain u20
Referee: Saba Abulashvili (Geo)

World Cup warm up matches

Samoa v Fiji
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
ARs: James Doleman (NZR) & Matthew Kellahan (RA)

Japan v Tonga
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
ARs: Damon Murphy (RA) & Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

Scotland v Italy
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
ARs: Mathieu Raynal (FFR) & Adam Leal (RFU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Uruguay v Chile (in Montevideo)
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
ARs: Damian Schneider (UAR) & Nehuen Jauri Rivero (UAR)

Namibia v Argentina XV (in Montevideo, Uruguay)
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)
ARs: Damian Schneider (UAR) & Francisco Gonzalez (URU)

New Zealand: Farah Palmer Cup – round 3

Premiership

Canterbury v Bay of Plenty
Referee: Dan Moore
ARs: TBC

Hawke’s Bay v Waikato
Referee: Tiana Anderson
ARs: Marty Hantz & Keith Groube

Wellington v Counties Manukau
Referee: Taneika Uerata
ARs: Jamie Fairmaid & Zarne Johnson

Championship
Tasman v North Harbour
Referee: Erin Doherty
ARs: Justin Morrison & Moeka Koyama

Otago v Taranaki
Referee: Cassie Watt
ARs: Jared Fox & Michael Buttery

Manawatu v Northland
Referee: Jack Sargentina
ARs: Jacob Booth & Matt Booth

Scotland: FOSROC Super Series 2023

Southern KNights v Scotland Future XV
Referee: Jonny Perriam
ARs: Michael Todd & Bob Nevins

Boroughmuir Bears v Heriot’s Rugby
Referee: Ian Kenny
ARs: Ruairidh Campbell & Sm O’Neil

Ayreshire Bulls v Watsonians Rugby
Referee: Sam Grove-White
ARs: Finlay Brown & Rob McDowell

SA: Women’s Premier Division

Cell C Sharks Women v EP Queens
Referee: Zoe Naude

DHL Western Province v Border Ladies
Referee: Angie Bezuidenhout

Boland Dames v Bulls Daisies
Referee: Bulela Qwane

Women’s First Division

Free State Women v Limpopo Blue Bulls Women
Referee: Aneka Fick

SWD Eagirls v Leopards Women
Referee: Siyanda Pikoli