A big weekend of referee appointments for some of the biggest rugby matches out there. Angus Gardner (pic top left) and Ben O’Keeffe will be overseeing the two Rugby World Cup semi-finals in Paris. On the international women’s front, WXV1 kicks off in Wellington with the England Roses playing the Wallaroos. Now an Italian resident, Lauren Jenner (top right) will be back on familiar turf as she referees that one. It’s weekend two of WXV2 and 3, with Ano Kuwai (bottom right), who was capped 32 times for Japan Sevens and once for the Sakura Blossoms, making her international test debut. She referees the Ireland v Colombia match in Dubai.
In New Zealand it’s the final of the 2023 NPC. Angus Mabey (bottom left) put up his hand to referee the match between Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay – his first NPC final. Good luck Angus! Up North, we have the opening round of the URC and we continue with the Premierships in England, Wales and the Energia 1A league in Ireland, as well as the men’s and women’s premierships in Hong Kong China.
Enjoy the weekend everyone.
Keith
Rugby World Cup Semi-finals
New Zealand v Argentina
Referee: Angus Gardner (Aus)
ARs: Nic Berry (Aus) & Karl Dickson (Eng)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)
South Africa v England
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
ARs: Andrew Brace (Ire) & Paul Williams (NZ)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZ)
WXV 1 – NEW ZEALAND
England v Australia (in Wellington)
Referee: Lauren Jenner (Ita/NZ)
ARs: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZ) & Taneika Uerata (NZ)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Sco)
Canada v Wales (in Wellington)
Referee: Sara Cox (Eng)
ARs: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZ) & Taneika Uerata (NZ)
TMO: Rachel Horton (Aus)
New Zealand v France (in Wellington)
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
ARs: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) & Amber McLachlan (RA)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
WXV 2 – South Africa
USA v Scotland (in Cape Town)
Referee: Clara Munarini (Ita)
ARs: Natarsha Ganley (NZ) & Zoe Naude (SA)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA)
Italy v South Africa (in Cape Town)
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (Fra)
ARs: Kat Roche (USA) & Precious Pazani (Zim)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ire)
Japan v Samoa (in Cape Town)
Referee: Holly Wood (Eng)
ARs: Natarsha Ganley (NZ) & Zoe Naude (SA)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ire)
WXV 3 – Dubai
Kazakhstan v Kenya
Referee: Adele Robert (Bel)
ARs: Doriane Domenjo (Fra) & Sunny Lee (HKC)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
Spain v Fiji
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (Aus)
ARs: Amelia Luciano (USA) & Maria Latos (Ger)
TMO: Andrew Hosie (Can)
Ireland v Colombia
Referee: Ano Kuwai (Jpn)
ARs: Maria Latos (Ger) & Sunny Lee (HKC)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
New Zealand: 2023 Bunnings NPC Final
Taranaki v Hawke’s Bay
Referee: Angus Mabey
ARs: Stu Curran & Mike Winter
TMO: Aaron Paterson
BKT United Rugby Championship – Round 1
Zebre Parma v Ulster
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU & 29th league game)
ARs: Manuel Bottino (FIR) & Lorenzo Imbriaco (FIR)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)
Connacht v Ospreys
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR & 2nd league game)
ARs: Dan Carson (IRFU) & Tomas O’Sullivan (IRFU)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)
Emirates Lions v DHL Stormers
Referee: Morne Ferreira (SARU & 3rd game)
ARs: Griffin Colby (SARU) & Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
Dragons RFC v Edinburgh Rugby
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU & 10th league game)
ARs: Gareth Newman (WRU) & Simon Rees (WRU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Cardiff Rugby v Benetton
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU & 76th league game)
ARs: Mike English (WRU) & Gwyn Morris (WRU)
TMO: Mark Patton (WRU)
Munster v Hollywoodbets Sharks
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR & 24th league game)
ARs: Jonathan Erskine (IRFU) & Andrew Fogarty (IRFU)
TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)
Vodacom Bulls v Scarlets
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU & 73rd league game)
ARs: AJ Jacobs (SARU) & Cwengile Jadezweni (SARU)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
Glasgow Warriors v Leinster
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU & 47th league game)
ARs: Ru Campbell (SRU) & Jonny Perriam (SRU)
TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU)
Wales: Indigo Premiership – round 6
Swansea RFC V Aberavon RFC
Referee: Mike English
ARs: Steff Edwards & Richard Jones
Bridgend RFC V Cardiff RFC
Referee: Dewi Phillips
ARs: Tom Spurrier & Richard Hughes
Llandovery RFC V RGC
Referee: Ben Breakspear
ARs: Carwyn Williams & Jon Hardy
Neath RFC V Ebbw Vale RFC
Referee: Ben Connor
ARs: Richard Brace & Greg Morgan
Pontypool RFC V Pontypridd RFC
Referee: Simon Mills
ARs: Gavin Roberts & Anthony Price
Carmarthen RFC V Newport RFC
Referee: Elliot Mayor
ARs: Elfyn Morris Roberts & Martyn Jones
England: Gallagher Premiership – Round 2
Newcastle Falcons v Gloucester Rugby
Referee: Jack Makepeace
ARs: Alex Thomas & Jamie Leahy
TMO: Dean Richards
Saracens v Bath Rugby
Referee: Hamish Smales
ARs: Simon Harding & Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: David Rose
Northampton Saints v Bristol Bears
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
ARs: Andrew Jackson & James Clarke
TMO: Rowan Kitt
Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
ARs: Harry Walbaum & Wayne Falla
TMO: Dean Richards
Harlequins v Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Adam Leal
ARs: George Selwood & Paul Dix
TMO: Andrew Jackson
Hong Kong China: Nan Fung Group/SEWIT Men’s Premiership – round 2
Societe Generale Valley v IMPACT HKU Sandy Bay
Referee: Francesco Cammisa (7th Prem Appointment)
ARs: Rowan Turner & Mark Jackson
Natixis HKFC Club v DAC Kowloon
Referee: Morgan White (18th Prem Appointment)
ARs: Matt Rodden & Sam Chan
Kroll USRC Tigers v KPMG HK Scottish
Referee: Craig Chan (22nd Prem Appointment)
ARs: Stephen Copeman & Steven Yuen
HKC: Nan Fung Group/SEWIT Women’s Premiership – round 1
Societe Generale Valley v SCAA Causeway Bay Phoenix
Referee: Thomas Ngan (2nd WPrem Appointment)
ARs: Jan Tang & Nic Futter
Natixis HKFC Ice v DAC Kowloon Ladies
Referee: Matt Rodden (4th WPrem Appointment)
ARs: Aggie Poon & Hendro van der Merwe
Kroll USRC Tigers Ladies v Gai Wu Falcons
Referee: Steven Yuen (30th WPrem Appointment)
ARs: Craig Chan & Billy Chan
Energia All Ireland League 1A 23/24 – round 3
Clontarf v UCD
Referee: Chris Busby
Dublin University v Young Munster
Referee: Keane Davison
Lansdowne v Ballynahinch
Referee: Andrew Cole
Shannon v City of Armagh
Referee: Padraic Reidy
Terenure College RFC v Cork Constitution
Referee: Peter Martin
Scotland: FOSROC Super Series Rugby
Ayrshire v Boroughmuir Bears
Referee: David Sutherland
ARs: Finlay Brown & Samuel O’Neil
Watsonians Rugby v Stirling Wolves
Referee: Ru Campbell
ARs: John Smith & Bob Nevins
Heriot’s Rugby v Future XV
Referee: Jonny Perriam
ARs: Fergus Hollins & David Changleng
Malta Rugby: Ray Elliot Cup
Falcons RFC v Stompers RFC
Referee: Darryl Chapman (RFU)
