It’s the calm before the storm, but there’s still plenty of refereeing to be done out there. In New Zealand, Maggie Cogger-Orr (pictured top left) becomes the second female to control a Bunnings NPC match when Northland take on Hawke’s Bay on Friday night. At the other end of that scale, Chris Hart brings up 100 first class TMO games on Saturday. It’s semi final time in the Farah Palmer Cup – go well Tiana Anderson and Cassie Watt in those two.
In the north, French leagues continue. Aurelie Groizeleau (top right) has her first run out of the season in the ProD2 as Biarritz host Soyaux-Angoulême XV. Elsewhere in Europe, the Welsh Premiership is back. Ben Breakspear (bottom right) is in action as Aberavon get things under way against Neath. The Super Series continues in Scotland and in Ireland, it’s the final round of the women’s interprovincial series. Barrie O’Connell (bottom left) and Stuart Douglas take charge of the final two matches.
Plenty of pre-season action elsewhere – two for me on Sunday – an u15s and an u18s women’s academy! Might not be around on Monday…
Enjoy your weekend
Keith
Indigo Welsh Premiership – round 1
Aberavon RFC V Neath RFC
Referee: Ben Breakspear
ARs: Adam Jones & Jon Hardy
Carmarthen RFC V Llandovery RFC
Referee: Ian Davies
ARs: Dewi Phillips & Simon Harris
Pontypridd RFC V Cardiff RFC
Referee: Mike English
ARs: Tom Spurrier & Wayne Davies
Swansea RFC V Bridgend RFC
Referee: Ben Connor
ARs: Gwyn Morris & Greg Morgan
Merthyr RFC V Ebbw Vale RFC
Referee: Jason Bessant
ARs: Gavin Roberts & Karim Cosslett
Newport v Pontypool
Referee; Adam Jones
ARs: Keith David & Mark Butcher
France: Top 14 – round 3
Oyannax v Stade Toulousain
Referee: Tual Trainini
ARs: Stephane Crapoix & Adrien Descottes
TMO: Cedric Marchat
Castres Olympique v Aviron Bayonnais
Referee: Benoit Rousselet
ARs: Stephane Boyer & Thomas Chereque
TMO: Julien Castaignede
Stade Français Paris v Montpellier Hérault Rugby
Referee: Vincent Blasco Baque
ARs: David Beun & Richard Duhau
TMO: Laurent Sclafer
Section Paloise v LOU Rugby
Referee: Pierre Baptiste Nuchy
ARs: Benoit Albert Bonnafous & Mathieu Noirot
TMO: Patrick Dellac
Racing 92 v USA Perpignan
Referee: Vivien Praderie
ARs: Christian Coussan & Adrien Marbot
TMO: Akim Hadj Bachir
ASM Clermont v Stade Rochelais
Referee: Luc Ramos
ARs: Nicolas Bridoux & Jonathan Gasnier
TMO: Patrick Pechambert
Union Bordeaux-Bègles v RC Toulon
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
ARs: Thomas Charabas & Thierry Mallet
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
France: ProD2 – round 3
Provence Rugby v USON Nevers
Referee: Herve Lasausa
ARs: Sylvain Brayelle & Stephane Coulon
TMO: Eric Briquet Campin
US Dax Rugby Landes v FC Grenoble Rugby
Referee: Pierre Bru
ARs: Benjamin Beuriot & Benoit Lapassade
TMO: Bruno Bessot
AS Béziers Hérault v Rouen Normandie Rugby
Referee: Thomas Chereque
ARs: David Beun & Fabrice Hand
TMO: Julien Castaignede
Biarritz Olympique PB v Soyaux-Angoulême XV
Referee: Aurelie Groizeleau
ARs: Ludovic Carrillo & Sylvain Jaymes
TMO: Mourad Zitouni
Stade Aurillacois v RC Vannes
Referee: Cyrille Boulay
ARs: Alexis Darche & Denis Daste
TMO: Patrick Pechambert
US Montalbanaise v CA Brive
Referee: Evan Urruzmendi
ARs: Ghyslain Elias & Mathieu Noirot
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
Valence Romans Drome Rugby v Colomiers Rugby
Referee: Anthony Lac
ARs: Jean Lespes & Frederic Masse
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
SU Agen v Stade Montois Rugby
Referee: Kevin Bralley
ARs: Flavien Hourquet & Laurent Millotte
TMO: Jean Luc Rebollal
New Zealand: Bunnings National Provincial Championship
Northland v Hawke’s Bay
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr
ARs: Nathan Chestnut & Stephen Ball
TMO: Duane Wells
Bay of Plenty v Otago
Referee: Jono Bredin
ARs: Jaco Brouwer & Ryan Waite
TMO: TBC
Canterbury v Taranaki
Referee: Nick Briant
ARs: William Todd & Gareth Reed
TMO: Chris Hart
North Harbour v Waikato
Referee: Nick Hogan
ARs: Tim Oliff & Kyle Lagerwell
TMO: Jonathan Paterson
Wellington v Counties Manukau
Referee: Stu Curran
ARs: Jack Sargentina & Jamie Fairmaid
TMO: Jared Clarke
Southland v Auckland
Referee: Jackson Henshaw
ARs: Josh Hamill & Sam Nicholson
TMO: Andrew Rowland
Tasman v Manawatu
Referee: Marcus Playle
ARs: Ben Alexander & Aidan Barnett
TMO: Reece Weir
North Harbour v Otago
Referee: Mike Winter
ARs: TBCs
TMO: TBC
NZ: 2023 Heartland Championship
Horowhenua Kapiti v Wairarapa Bush
Referee: Tipene Cottrell
ARs: Randle Peni & Quentin Hathaway
Buller v East Coast
Referee: Dan Moore
ARs: Gary Reilly & Gareth Allen
North Otago v South Canterbury
Referee: Fraser Hannon
ARs: Jared Fox & Luke Snow
Poverty Bay v Mid Canterbury
Referee: Stu Catley
ARs: Damien MacPherson & Matt Smith
Thames Valley v King Country
Referee: Andy Morton
ARs: Nico Fox & TBC
Whanganui v West Coast
Referee: Ben Woolerton
ARs: Amon Rimene & Jacob Booth
NZ: 2023 Farah Palmer Cup – Premiership – Semi finals
Waikato v Auckland
Referee: Tiana Anderson
ARs: Ben Brownlie & Kaitlin Bates
Canterbury v Hawke’s Bay
Referee: Cassie Watt
ARs: Josh Edmonds & William Day
2023 Farah Palmer Cup – Championship Semi-finals
Manawatu v Tasman
Referee: Will Johnston
ARs: Matty McEwen & Matt Booth
Northland v Otago
Referee: Scott McKenzie
ARs: Jaco Cronje & TBC
Ireland: Women’s Interprovincial Championship 23-24
Connacht v Ulster
Referee: Barrie O’Connell
ARs: Kevin Coffey & David O’Riordan David
TMO: Olly Hodges
Munster v Leinster
Referee: Stuart Douglas
ARs: Kevin Coffey & David O’Riordan David
TMO: Olly Hodges
South Africa – Toyota Challenge Cup
Toyota Cheetahs v Force
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
ARs: Christopher Allison & Quinton Immelman
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen
Scotland: FOSROC Super Series
Watsonians v Heriot’s Rugby
Referee: Ian Kenny
ARs: Michael Todd & Samuel O’Neil
Southern Knights v Stirling Wolves
Referee: Rob McDowell
ARs: David Changleng & Bob Nevins
Ayrshire Bulls v Scotland Future XV
Referee: Ruairidh Campbell
ARs: David Sutherland & Alistair Watt