World Rugby has today announced the match officials for the upcoming September and October women’s internationals and three-level inaugural WXV competitions held in New Zealand, South Africa and Dubai later this year.
A total of 19 match officials representing 13 nations will take charge of the 10 warm-up fixtures in September and October across seven countries in four continents, with teams and officials preparing for the further 18 matches that comprise the WXV competition. They’re due to take place between 13 October to 4 November – the specific appointments will be made later this month.
Debuts
Natarsha Ganley (New Zealand, left of pic) and Holly Wood (England) will both make their test debuts, while Ella Goldsmith (Australia) receives her first appointment from World Rugby.
Goldsmith (second from left) takes charge of the opening test between Japan and Fiji in Fukuoka on 10 September with Ganley refereeing the second in Tokyo on 16 September. Wood’s (third from left) debut follow on 30 September with Scotland v Spain in Edinburgh.
Former Japan 15s and sevens player Ano Kuwai (pic on right) is poised for her test debut as a referee after being named on the panel for WXV 3 in Dubai.
Record
Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa) will draw level with Sara Cox (England) as the most-capped female referees of all time when she referees her 35th test on home territory.
WXV
Six referees have been selected for each level of WXV competition. The comp provides a meaningful and competitive springboard towards an expanded 16-team Rugby World Cup in 2025. That can only be good for match officials too.
New Zealand will welcome the world’s top teams –Australia, Canada, England, France and Wales – in WXV 1 across three match weekends from 20 October to 4 November. Familiar faces from Rugby World Cup 2021 will see Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand), Sara Cox (England), Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Lauren Jenner (New Zealand/FIR) and Amber McLachlan (Australia) all in charge of matches.
Cape Town and Stellenbosch in South Africa will play host to the second level WXV 2 with the Springbok Women hosting Japan, Italy, Samoa, Scotland and USA. The panel for WXV 2 features Natarsha Ganley (New Zealand), Aurélie Groizeleau (France), Clara Munarini (Italy), Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe), Kat Roche (USA) and Holly Wood (England)
The third level WXV 3 dates will mirror the same weekends as WXV 2 with Colombia, Fiji, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kenya and Spain heading to The Sevens Stadium in Dubai. Doriane Domenjo (France), Ella Goldsmith (Australia), Ano Kuwai (Japan), Maria Latos (Germany), Amelia Luciano (USA) and Adèle Robert (Belgium) make up the panel for WXV 3.
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said, “The fact that 13 nations are represented speaks volumes about the hard work being done around the world to develop talented women’s match officials as the sport continues its exciting growth.”
World Rugby Women’s High Performance Referee Manager, Alhambra Nievas said, “It’s an exciting time to be involved in women’s international rugby and I would like to congratulate all of the match officials that have been selected. The matches will serve as important preparation for the match officials who will build towards selection for Rugby World Cup 2025 in England.”
Women’s internationals 2023
10 September 2023
Japan v Fiji (in Fukuoka)
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (RA)
ARs: Ano Kuwai (JRFU) & Hibiki Ikeda (JRFU)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZR)
16 September 2023
Japan v Fiji
Referee: Natarsha Ganley (NZR)
ARs: Ano Kuwai (JRFU) & Eri Kamimura (JRFU)
TMO: Rachel Horton (RA)
South Africa v Kenya (Cape Town)
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)
ARs: Giana Viljoen (SARU) & Zoe Naude (SARU)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
23 September 2023
England v Canada (Exeter)
Referee: Lauren Jenner (FIR)
ARs: Clara Munarini (FIR) & Clotilde Benvenuti (FIR)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
30 September 2023
England v Canada (StoneX Stadium, London)
Referee: Amber McLachlan (RA)
ARs: Maria Latos (GER) & Adele Robert (BEL)
TMO: Ben Blain (SRU)
New Zealand v Australia (FMG Stadium,Hamilton)
Referee: Kat Roche (USA)
ARs: Natarsha Ganley (NZR) & Tyler Miller (RA)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (NZR)
Italy v Japan (in Parma)
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR)
ARs: Doriane Domenjo (FFR) & Melissa Leboeuf (FFR)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Scotland v Spain (Hive Stadium, Edinburgh)
Referee: Holly Wood (RFU)
ARs: Sara Cox (RFU) & Maria Heitor (FPR)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
Wales v USA(in Colwyn Bay)
Referee: Clara Munarini (FIR)
ARs: Lauren Jenner (NZR) & Clotilde Benvenuti (FIR)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
7 October2023
South Africa v Samoa (Boland Stadium, Wellington)
Referee: Precious Pazani (ZIM)
ARs: Giana Viljoen (SARU) & Zoe Naude (SARU)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)