Following news of the referee panels a few weeks ago, the match officials for first two rounds of WXV have been announced. Eighteen match officials representing 12 nations will take charge of matches in New Zealand, South Africa and Dubai in October and November.
You’ll note that the final rounds in each competition are all TBC as they will be made on a performance-basis during the competition. There is promotion and relegation in play for WXV2 and 3 tournaments so the final round games do have outcomes riding on them.
Kat Roche from the USA will referee the first-ever WXV match with Italy v Japan (in WXV2) in Stellenbosch on 13 October. Her fellow American, Amelia Luciano will be in Dubai taking charge of the WXV3 opener a few hours later as Fiji play Colombia. Amelia was last on international duty back in 2019 (see pic right).
WXV1 kicks off a week later with Lauren Jenner refereeing the opening match between England and Australia in Auckland. Sara Cox (Eng) and Aimee Barrett-Therom (SA) will collect their 36th caps in WXV1. Eight of the nine referees from Rugby World Cup 2021 will be involved in WXV, the exception being Joy Neville who is currently TMOing at RWC23 in France.
Holly Wood (England) will referee her maiden test with Scotland v Spain on 30 September in Cape Town.
Former Japan 15s and sevens player Ano Kuwai will make her test debut with the WXV 3 encounter between Ireland and Colombia in Dubai on 21 October.
World Rugby Women’s High Performance Referee Manager, Alhambra Nievas said, “WXV provides a new and great opportunity to see a wider group of match officials, with a mix of experience and new talent detected through domestic and regional competitions. The new global competition will play a big part in the journey to Rugby World Cup 2025.”
WXV 1 – NEW ZEALAND
20 October
England v Australia (in Wellington)
Referee: Lauren Jenner (FIR)
ARs: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR) & Taneika Uerata (NZR)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
Saturday 21 October
Canada v Wales (in Wellington)
Referee: Sara Cox (RFU)
ARs: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR) & Taneika Uerata (NZR)
TMO: Rachel Horton (RA)
New Zealand v France (in Wellington)
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
ARs: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) & Amber McLachlan (RA)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
Friday 27 October
England v Canada (in Dunedin)
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR)
ARs: Lauren Jenner (FIR) & Cassie Watt (NZR)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
Saturday 28 October
New Zealand v Wales (Dunedin)
Referee: Amber McLachlan (RA)
ARs: Hollie Davidson (SRU) & Sara Cox (RFU)
TMO: Rachel Horton (RA)
France v Australia (Dunedin)
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)
ARs: Lauren Jenner (FIR) & Cassie Watt (NZR)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
Friday 3 November
Australia v Wales (in Auckland)
Referee: TBC
ARs: TBC & Tiana Anderson (NZR)
TMO: TBC
Saturday 4 November
France v Canada (Auckland)
Referee: TBC
ARs: TBC & Tiana Anderson (NZR)
TMO: TBC
England v New Zealand (Auckland)
Referee: TBC
ARs: TBC & Tiana Anderson (NZR)
TMO: TBC
WXV 2 – SOUTH AFRICA
Friday 13 October
Italy v Japan (in Stellenbosch)
Referee: Kat Roche (USAR)
ARs: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR) & Zoe Naude (SARU)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
Scotland v South Africa (in Stellenbosch)
Referee: Natarsha Ganley (NZR)
ARs: Clara Munarini (FIR) & Holly Wood (RFU)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Saturday 14 October
USA v Samoa (in Stellenbosch)
Referee: Precious Pazani (ZRU)
ARs: Holly Wood (RFU) & Zoe Naude (SARU)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
Friday 20 October
USA v Scotland (in Cape Town)
Referee: Clara Munarini (FIR)
ARs: Natarsha Ganley (NZR) & Zoe Naude (SARU)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
Italy v South Africa (in Cape Town)
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR)
ARs: Kat Roche (USAR) & Precious Pazani (ZRU)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Saturday 21 October
Japan v Samoa (in Cape Town)
Referee: Holly Wood (RFU)
ARs: Natarsha Ganley (NZR) & Zoe Naude (SARU)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Friday 27 October
Scotland v Japan (in Cape Town)
Referee: TBC
ARs: TBC & Zoe Naude (SARU)
TMO: TBC
South Africa v Samoa (in Cape Town)
Referee: TBC
ARs: TBC & Zoe Naude (SARU)
TMO: TBC
Saturday 28 October
USA v Italy (in Cape Town)
Referee: TBC
ARs: TBC & Zoe Naude (SARU)
TMO: TBC
WXV 3 – DUBAI (all at Sevens Stadium, Dubai)
Friday 13 October
Fiji v Colombia
Referee: Amelia Luciano (USAR)
ARs: Adele Robert (BEL) & Sunny Lee (HKCR)
TMO: Andrew Hosie (RC)
Ireland v Kazakhstan
Referee: Doriane Domenjo (FFR)
ARs: Ano Kuwai (JRFU) & Ella Goldsmith (RA)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
Saturday 14 October
Spain v Kenya
Referee: Maria Latos (GER)
ARs: Ella Goldsmith (RA) & Sunny Lee (HKCR)
TMO: Andrew Hosie (RC)
Friday 20 October
Kazakhstan v Kenya
Referee: Adele Robert (BEL)
ARs: Doriane Domenjo (FFR) & Sunny Lee (HKCR)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
Spain v Fiji
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (RA)
ARs: Amelia Luciano (USAR) & Maria Latos (GER)
TMO: Andrew Hosie (RC)
Saturday 21 October
Ireland v Colombia
Referee: Ano Kuwai (JRFU)
ARs: Maria Latos (GER) & Sunny Lee (HKCR)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
Friday 27 October
Kazakhstan v Fiji
Referee: TBC
ARs: TBC & TBC
TMO: TBC
Kenya v Colombia
Referee: TBC
ARs: TBC & TBC
TMO: TBC
Saturday 28 October
Ireland v Spain
Referee: TBC
ARs: TBC & TBC
TMO: TBC
