In France, the match officials team will be on their mettle once again for the second round of pool games. Always a danger to predict international rugby, but looks like the tie of the round could well be, once again in Pool C. Australia’s win last week will help their confidence and Fiji will be looking for a repeat performance from Sunday but with a different ending – Andrew Brace will referee that one. Elsewhere, in Nice, Karl Dickson (pic top left) makes his RWC refereeing debut as Portugal play Wales.
In Tokyo, Natarsha Ganley refs her first international test match as Japan host Fiji. Tarsh becomes New Zealand’s eighth female Test referee and 87th NZ Test Referee overall. Congrats Tarsh. In Cape Town, Aimee Barrett-Theron (top right) joins Sara Cox as the most capped female referees as SA v Kenya becomes her 35th international match.
Speaking of New Zealand, the NPC and Heartlands championships continue this weekend. We’re at the half way point of the NPC with Wellington and Auckland leading the league. Auckland host Waikato
this weekend with Jono Bredin (bottom right) refereeing. It’s round three of the Indigo Welsh Premiership and round two of the Premiership Rugby Cup in England where Premiership teams are mixed up with Championship. Simon Harding (bottom left) will oversee the SW Derby between the Exeter Chiefs and the Cornish Pirates.
Have a great weekend
Keith
Rugby World Cup 2023 – Pool games – round 2
France v Uruguay – Pool A
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
ARs: Paul Williams (NZ) & James Doleman (NZ)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)
New Zealand v Namibia – Pool A
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
ARs: Andrew Brace (Ire) & Jordan Way (Aus)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ire)
Samoa v Chile – Pool D
Referee: Paul Williams (NZ)
ARs: Angus Gardner & James Doleman (NZ)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Aus)
Wales v Portugal – Pool C
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
ARs: Luke Pearce (Eng) & Andrea Piardi (Ita)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
Ireland v Tonga – Pool B
Referee: Wayne Barnes (Eng)
ARs: Matthew Carley (Eng) & Craig Evans (Wal)
TMO: Tom Foley (Eng)
South Africa v Romania – Pool B
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (Fra)
ARs: Angus Gardner (Aus) & Pierre Brousset (Fra)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Aus)
Australia v Fiji – Pool C
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ire)
ARs: Jaco Peyper (SA) & Chris Busby (Ire)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ire)
England v Japan – Pool D
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
ARs: Nic Berry (Aus) & Andrea Piardi (Ita)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ire)
Women’s internationals
Japan v Fiji
Referee: Natarsha Ganley (NZR)
ARs: Ano Kuwai (JRFU) & Eri Kamimura (JRFU)
TMO: Rachel Horton (RA)
South Africa v Kenya (in Cape Town)
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)
ARs: Giana Viljoen (SARU) & Zoe Naude (SARU)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
New Zealand: Bunnings National Provincial Championship
Hawke’s Bay v Manawatu
Referee: Fraser Hannon
ARs: Stu Catley & Dave Clarkson
TMO: Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri
Auckland v Waikato
Referee: Jono Bredin
ARs: Tim Oliff & Kyle van Veen
TMO: Rob Harmon
North Harbour v Northland
Referee: Cam Stone
ARs: Kyle Lagerwell & Dean Harris
TMO: Jonathan Paterson
Otago v Taranaki
Referee: Dan Waenga
ARs: Caleb Neilson & Logan Whitty
TMO: Chris Hart
Bay of Plenty v Wellington
Referee: Angus Mabey
ARs: TBC & Neco Blanc
TMO: TBC
Canterbury v Southland
Referee: Stu Catley
ARs: Dan Moore & William Todd
TMO: Gareth Reed
Tasman v Counties Manukau
Referee: Jackson Henshaw
ARs: Ben Alexander & Brad Evans
TMO: Reece Weir
New Zealand: 2023 Heartland Championship
Buller v Wairarapa Bush
Referee: Ben Alexander
ARs: Gary Reilly & Gareth Allen
King Country v Horowhenua Kapiti
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr
ARs: Jamie Bell & Tony Prestage
Poverty Bay v North Otago
Referee: Andy Morton
ARs: Damien MacPherson & Matt Smith
Thames Valley v South Canterbury
Referee: Todd Petrie
ARs: Nico Fox & Stu Watts
Whanganui v East Coast
Referee: Stu Curran
ARs: Amon Rimene & Robbie Clarke
West Coast v Mid Canterbury
Referee: Josh Bamber
ARs: Chris O’Malley & Glenn Baxter
England: Premiership Rugby Cup – round 2
Newcastle Falcons v Bedford Blues
Referee: George Selwood
ARs: John Meredith & Gregg Dawson
Nottingham Rugby v Hartpury University
Referee: Richard Gordon
ARs: Simon Adams & Ian Bibey
Sale Sharks v Leicester Tigers
Referee: Ian Tempest
ARs: Neil Chivers & Jamie Leahy
Bath Rugby v Jersey Reds
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
ARs: Alex Thomas & Simon Park
Saracens v Gloucester Rugby
Referee: Adam Leal
ARs: Andy Wigley & Mike Woods
Caldy v Ampthill Rugby
Referee: Andrew Jackson
ARs: Ian Tempest & Jamie Leahy
Exeter Chiefs v Cornish Pirates
Referee: Simon Harding
ARs: Dan Jones & Gareth Holsgrove
Harlequins v Coventry
Referee: Sara Cox
ARs: Mike Hudson & Veryan Boscawen
London Scottish v Doncaster Knights
Referee: Harry Walbaum
ARs: James Pidding & Peter Allan
Northampton Saints v Cambridge
Referee: Jonathan Cook
ARs: Craig Maxwell-Keys & James Cornell
Bristol Bears v Ealing Trailfinders
Referee: Joe James
ARs: Greg Macdonald & Ryan Collierey
Wales: Indigo Premiership – Week 3
Merthyr RFC V Neath RFC
Referee: Steff Edwards
ARs: Elliot Mayor & Jon Hardy
TMO: Wayne Davies
Aberavon RFC V Pontypool RFC
Referee: Ben Connor
ARs: Jason Bessant & Rhodri Morgan
Cardiff RFC V Ebbw Vale RFC
Referee: Dewi Phillips
ARs: Gareth Jablonski & Lee Parry
Carmarthen RFC V Bridgend RFC
Referee: Mike English
ARs: Andrew Moule & Greg Morgan
Pontypridd RFC V Llandovery RFC
Referee: Ben Breakspear
ARs: Elfyn Morris-Roberts & Dai Cambourne
RGC V Newport RFC
Referee: Simon Mills
ARs: Ed Brown & Mei Gwilym
