Rugby World Cup pools round four are on top of us already and the match officials will be zipping round France to be ready. Paul Williams (top left) will be in Nantes as Argentina host Chile (who might do England a favour if they win.) We also have a decent number of international women’s rugby this weekend too as all the teams get some game time in ahead of WXV kicking off in October. Kat Roche from the USA (top right) is in Hamilton for the cross-Tasman match as the Black Ferns play the Wallaroos. Holly Wood (who featured in the graphic last week), makes her refereeing test debut in Edinburgh as Scotland play Spain. Go well Holly!
Also on the international front is Phila Bitterhout (bottom left) from the Netherlands. He’s in Copenhagen to referee the Rugby Europe Conference match between Denmark and Andorra. Philip Manolopoulos from Austria and Emmanuel Jacques (Denmark) are also in action.
It’s the final round of the NPC and Heartlands comps in New Zealand. Wellington lead the NPC table and NZ stalwart Nick Briant (bottom right) is refereeing their match against Hawkes Bay. We’ve also got West Asian Premiership, England’s Premiership Women’s and Men’s Cups, Welsh Premiership and Scotland’s Super Series appointments for you as well.
Enjoy the weekend
Keith
Rugby World Cup 2023 – pools, round 4
Uruguay v Namibia – Pool A
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (Fra)
ARs: Nic Berry (Aus) & Chris Busby (Ire)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)
Japan v Samoa – Pool D
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SA)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ) & Craig Evans (Wal)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
New Zealand v Italy – Pool A
Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng)
ARs: Nic Berry (Aus) & Christophe Ridley (Eng)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Aus)
Argentina v Chile – Pool D
Referee: Paul Williams (NZ)
ARs: Andrew Brace (Ire) & Chris Busby (Ire)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)
Fiji v Georgia – Pool C
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
ARs: Jaco Peyper (SA) & Pierre Brousset (Fra)
TMO: Tom Foley (Eng)
Scotland v Romania – Pool B
Referee: Wayne Barnes (Eng)
ARs: Angus Gardner (Aus) & James Doleman (NZ)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZ)
Australia v Portugal – Pool C
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
ARs: Mathieu Raynal (Fra) & Andrea Piardi (Ita)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ire)
South Africa v Tonga – Pool B
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
ARs: Matthew Carley (Eng) & Christophe Ridley (Eng)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Aus)
Women’s internationals
England v Canada (at StoneX Stadium, London)
Referee: Amber McLachlan (RA)
ARs: Maria Latos (GER) & Adele Robert (BEL)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
New Zealand v Australia (in 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 (in 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)
Rugby Europe Conference
Denmark v Andorra (in Copenhagen)
Ref: Phila Bitterhout (NED)
Turkey v Moldova (in Istanbul)
Ref: Philip Manolopoulos (AUT)
Austria v Hungary (in Mattersburg)
Ref: Emmanuel Jacques (DEN)
Wales: Indigo Premiership – week 4
Bridgend RFC v Merthyr RFC
Referee: Ben Breakspear
ARs: Gareth Jablonski & Jon Hardy
Ebbw Vale RFC v RGC
Referee: Mike English
ARs: Kristoff Young & Richard Brace
Neath RFC v Pontypridd RFC
Referee: Keith David
ARs: Matthew Davies & Wayne Davies
Pontypool RFC v Carmarthen RFC
Referee: Gareth Newman
ARs: Marcus Caudle & Jamie Morgan
Newport RFC v Swansea RFC
Referee: Elliot Mayor
ARs: Nathan James & Simon Harris
West Asia – Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Referee: Jaco De Wit
ARs: Matt Riley & Shakeel Ahamed
Jebel Ali Dragons v Dubai Exiles
Referee: James Fairbourne
ARs: Tony Duminy & Eugene Deegan
England: Premiership Cup – round 4
Doncaster Knights v Bristol Bears
Referee: Adam Leal
ARs: Simon Park & John Meredith
Cornish Pirates v Jersey Reds
Referee: Andy Wigley
ARs: James Milliner-Woodcock & Kevin Williams
Hartpury University v Gloucester Rugby
Referee: Mike Hudson
ARs: Gareth Holsgrove & Simon Adams
Cambridge v Ealing Trailfinders
Referee: Richard Gordon
ARs: James Clarke & James Pidding
Northampton Saints v Bath Rugby
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
ARs: Alex Thomas & Mike Woods
Caldy v Sale Sharks
Referee: Hamish Grant
ARs: Neil Chivers & Paul Dix
Ampthill v Bedford Blues
Referee: Hamish Smales
ARs: Gregg Dawson & Simon Park
Exeter Chiefs v London Scottish
Referee: Harry Walbaum
ARs: Lionel Spooner & James Cornell
Leicester Tigers v Newcastle Falcons
Referee: George Selwood
ARs: Calum Howard & Jamie Leahy
Coventry v Nottingham
Referee: Jonathan Cook
ARs: Dan Jones & Simon Adams
Harlequins v Saracens
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
ARs: Joe James & Ryan Collier
TMO: David Rose
England: Premiership Women’s Rugby – Allianz Cup
Leicester Tigers Women v Warriors Women
Referee: Mel Wright
ARs: Rebecca Rees & Nia Parsonage
Harlequins Women v Trailfinders Women
Referee: Joe James
ARs: Veryan Boscawen & Lucy Smith
Loughborough Lightning v Saracens Women
Referee: TBC
ARs: Jenny Burrows & Frank Venner
Exeter Chiefs Women v Bristol Bears Women
Referee: Dan Jones ARs: Lionel Spooner & James Cornell
Scotland – Super Series – Round 8
Boroughmuir Bears v Scotland Future XV
Referee: Jonny Perrian
ARs: Finlay Brown & Michael Todd
Southern Knights v Watsonians
Referee: Sam Grove-White
ARs: Ciaran Stark & Alistair Watt
Ayrshire Bulls v Stirling Wolves
Referee: Rob McDowell
ARs: Mike Adamson & Bob Nevins
New Zealand – Bunnings NPC
Auckland v Northland
Referee: Dan Waenga
ARs: Tim Oliff & Sam Adam
TMO: Robert Harman
Wellington v Hawke’s Bay
Referee: Nick Briant
ARs: Jack Sargentina & Matt Thomas
TMO: Jared Clarke
Waikato v Canterbury
Referee: Cam Stone
ARs: Ben Brownlie & Grant Stuart
TMO: Damian Botherway
Taranaki v North Harbour
Referee: Mike Winter
ARs: TBC & TMO:
Otago v Counties Manukau
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr
ARs: Caleb Neilson & Logan Whitty
TMO: Rob Wells
Bay of Plenty v Tasman
Referee: Jono Bredin
ARs: TBC & TMO:
Manawatu v Southland
Referee: Stu Catley
ARs: Dr. Stu Curran & Sam Couper
TMO: Carl Baker
New Zealand: Bunnings Heartland Championship
Thames Valley v East Coast
Referee: Andy Morton
ARs: Nico Fox & Stu Watts
Mid Canterbury v Wairarapa Bush
Referee: Jackson Henshaw
ARs: Hamish Grant & Dale Frampton
Poverty Bay v South Canterbury
Referee: Tipene Cottrell
ARs: Damien MacPherson & Terry Reeves
King Country v Buller
Referee: Ben Woolerton
ARs: Jamie Bell & Digger Balme
Whanganui v Horowhenua-Kapiti
Referee: Will Johnston
ARs: Amon Rimene & TBC
West Coast v North Otago
Referee: George Haswell
ARs: Chris O’Malley & Glenn Baxter