On the international front, Aurélie Groizeleau (pictured top left) from France is in the middle of what could be the PAC4 decider in Christchurch where the Black Ferns host Canada. Canada lead the standings having played an extra match in the series so far, so this one could be crucial. Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZ) has the Australia v USA match on Friday. Not quite as many airmiles as Aurelie, but also on international exchange, is Ireland’s Andrew Cole (bottom left) who is in Dallas to ref in the MLR for the first time. He referees the Jackals match with Seattle.
Last week, Wales’ Ben Breakspear (top right) made his URC debut in Edinburgh. He follows that up with a second match this weekend as Ospreys host the Dragons. While Breakspear clocked up #1, his compatriot Ben Whitehouse reached #99 last week so will be keeping an eye on the next few weeks to see if he breaks into the 100 club.
Elsewhere, it’s play-off time in Japan, with a range of Top league semi finals and promo/relegation matches at stake. Least season’s referee of the year, Katsuki Furuse (bottom right) has the semi between, the Wild Knights and the Canon Eagles from Yokohama. We also have the teams of 4 for the Premiership and PWR in England, Super Series in Scotland and for Super Rugby Pacific. It’s the last weekend to he ProD2 in France with a couple of very interesting matches. Top 14 still has a few more weeks to go.
Enjoy your weekend
Keith
Pacific Four Series- round 3
Australia v USA (in Melbourne)
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR)
ARs: Natarsha Ganley (NZR) & Chloe Sampson (NZR)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (NZR)
New Zealand v Canada (in Christchurch)
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR)
ARs: Ella Goldsmith (RA) & Jess Ling (RA)
TMO: Rachel Horton (RA)
Scotland: FOSROC Super Series
Boroughmuir Bears v Heriot’s Rugby
Referee: Ian Kenny
ARs: Samuel O’Neil & Digby Thomas
Stirling Wolves v Watsonians
Referee: Ru Campbell
ARs: David Young & Stephan Ward
Ayrshire Bulls v Southern Knights
Referee: Michael Todd
ARs: Ciarfan Stark & Allan Parry
Japan Top League – Div 1 Play off Semi-finals
PANASONIC WILD KNIGHTS v YOKOHAMA CANON EAGLES
Referee: Katsuki Furuse
ARs: Toshimasa Sekiya & Sota Ouchi
TMO: Takehito Namekawa
TOSHIBA BRAVELUPAS v SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH
Referee: Takehito Namekawa
ARs: Ibuki Tetsuka & Koki Yamauchi
TMO: Katsuki Furuse
Japan: Promotion-Relegation play off matches
Div 2 v Div 1
URAYASU D-Rocks v HANAZONO KINTETSU LINERS
Referee: Ibuki Tetsuka
ARs: Ryoji Hirose & Kohei Osawa
TMO: Tomohiro Koyama
TOYOTA SHOKKI SHUTTLES v HONDA HEAT
Referee: Koki Yaauchi
ARs: Teruhisa Kajiwara & Noriaki Hashimoto
TMO: Minoru Fuji
NEC GREEN ROCKETS v RICOH BLACKRAMS
Referee: Tasuku Kawahara
ARs: Atsushi Yamamoto & Motonori Mizutani
TMO: Yosuke Kimura
Div 2 v Div3 Play off
KAMAISHI SEAWAVES v KURITA WATER GUSH
Referee: Tetsuya Hirakawa
ARs: Kenta Mitsui & Masaki Kondo
TMO: Yoshiyuki Nino
Super Rugby Pacific – Round 13
Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika
Referee: James Doleman
ARs: Jono Bredin & Fraser Hannon
TMO: Chris Hart
Melbourne Rebels v Chiefs
Referee: Nic Berry
ARs: Damon Murphy & George Myers
TMO: Oli Kellett
Fijian Drua v QLD Reds
Referee: Angus Gardner
ARs: Matt Kellahan & Jeremy Markey
TMO: Brett Cronan
Brumbies v Crusaders
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
ARs: Stu Curran & Jackson Henshaw
TMO: Glenn Newman
Blues v Highlanders
Referee: Paul Williams
ARs: Dan Waenga & Mike Winter
TMO: Richard Kelly
Western Force v NSW Waratahs
Referee: Jordan Way
ARs: Reuben Keane & Jordan Kaminski
TMO: Kyle Burnett
England: Gallagher Premiership
Bath Rugby v Northampton Saints
Referee: Christophe Ridley (77th Premiership match)
ARs: Anthony Woodthorpe & Andrew Jackson
TMO: Ian Tempest
Gloucester Rugby v Newcastle Falcons
Referee: Sara Cox (7th Premiership match)
ARs: Joe James & Peter Allan
TMO: Dean Richards
Harlequins v Bristol Bears
Referee: Adam Leal (37th Premiership match)
ARs: Craig Maxwell-Keys & Jonathan Healy
TMO: Tom Foley
Leicester Tigers v Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Karl Dickson (87th Premiership match)
ARs: Hamish Smales & John Meredith
TMO: Rowan Kitt
Saracens v Sale Sharks
Referee: Luke Pearce (149th Premiership match)
ARs: Jack Makepeace & Simon Harding
TMO: David Rose
England: The PWR
Loughborough Lightning v Harlequins Women
Referee: Jon Cook
ARs: Nikki O’Donnell & Darryl Chapman
Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC v Trailfinders Women
Referee: Richard Gordon
ARs: James Clarke & Simon Adams
Exeter Chiefs Women v Saracens Women
Referee: Alex Thomas
ARs: Veryan Boscawen & Ian Bibey
TMO: Dan Jones
Bristol Bears Women v Leicester Tigers Women
Referee: Hamish Grant
ARs: Mike Woods & Peter Brunt
BKT United Rugby Championship – Round 17
Zebre Parma v Scarlets
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 44th league game)
ARs: Clara Munarini (FIR) & Alberto Falvero (FIR)
TMO: Colin Brett (SRU)
Edinburgh Rugby v Munster
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 32nd league game)
ARs: Ru Campbell (SRU) & Finlay Brown (SRU)
TMO: Stu Terheege (RFU)
Vodacom Bulls v Benetton
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU, 13th league game)
ARs: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) & Cwengile Jadezweni (SARU)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
Ospreys v Dragons RFC
Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, 2nd league game)
ARs: Ben Connor (WRU) & Jason Bessant (WRU)
TMO: Ian Davies (WRU)
Emirates Lions v Glasgow Warriors
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU, 56th league game)
ARs: Morne Ferreira (SARU) & Hanru Van Rooyen (SARU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
Connacht v DHL Stormers
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR, 9th league game)
ARs: Chris Busby (IRFU) & Padraic Reidy (IRFU)
TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)
Hollywoodbets Sharks v Cardiff Rugby
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU, 85th league game)
ARs: Griffin Colby (SARU) & Stephen Geldenhuys (SARU)
TMO: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
Ulster v Leinster
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 43rd league game)
ARs: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU) & Keane Davison (IRFU)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
US: Major League Rugby – round 12
Charlotte Rugby RFC v Los Angeles
Referee: Lex Weiner
ARs: Dave Edwards & Alex Hedquist
TMO: Eanna O’Dowd
NOLA Gold v Utah Warriors
Referee: Scott Green
ARs: Moe Chaudhry & Ben Dickenson
TMO: Cam Russell
Houston Sabercats v Chicago Hounds
Referee: Federico Anselmi
ARs: Ian Seaton & Jono Cooper
TMO: Derek Summers
San Diego Legion v New England Free Jacks
Referee: Luke Rogan
ARs: Chris Assmus & Alexis Alfaro
TMO: Eanna O’Dowd
Dallas Jackals v Seattle Seawolves
Referee: Andrew Cole (IRFU)
ARs: Marquise Goodwin & Juan Parra
TMO: Derek Summers
France: Top 14 – Round 24
Montpellier Hérault Rugby v Stade Toulousain
Referee: Adrien Marbot
ARs: Richard Duhau & Jeremy Rozier
TMO: Jean Luc Rebollal
Aviron Bayonnais v USA Perpignan
Referee: Luc Ramos
ARs: Cyrille Boulay & Christian Coussan
TMO: Bruno Bessot
Oyonnax Rugby v RC Toulon
Referee: Vincent Blasco Baque
ARs: Thierry Mallet & Vivien Praderie
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
ASM Clermont v Castres Olympique
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
ARs: Christophe Bultet & Flavien Hourquet
TMO: Eric Gauzins
LOU Rugby v Racing 92
Referee: Thomas Charabas
ARs: Stephane Crapoix & Pierre Baptiste Nuchy
TMO: Patrick Dellac
Stade Rochelais v Section Paloise
Referee: Jonathan Gasnier
ARs: Stephane Boyer & Mathieu Noirot
TMO: Julien Castaignede
Stade Français Paris v Union Bordeaux-Bègles
Referee: Benoit Rousselet
ARs: Benoit Albert Bonnafous & Mathieu Raynal
TMO: Eric Briquet Campin
ProD2 – Round 30
CA Brive v Biarritz Olympique PB
Referee: Flavien Hourquet
ARs: Denis Daste & Hugues Samora
TMO: Jean Luc Rebollal
Colomiers Rugby v Valence Romans
Referee: Benjamin Beuriot
ARs: David Beun & Cyrille Le Gall
TMO: Christophe Berdos
Provence Rugby v FC Grenoble Rugby
Referee: Kevin Bralley
ARs: Ludovic Carrillo & Walter Prache
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
Soyaux-Angoulême XV v AS Béziers Hérault
Referee: Jean Lespes
ARs: Sylvain Desvaux & Herve Lasausa
TMO: Patrick Pechambert
Stade Aurillacois v US Montalbanaise
Referee: Mathieu Noirot
ARs: Stephane Coulon & Ghyslain Elias
TMO: Akim Hadj Bachir
Stade Montois Rugby v Rouen Normandie Rugby
Referee: Cyrille Boulay
ARs: Sylvain Brayelle & Loic Frayssinet
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
SU Agen v RC Vannes
Referee: Thomas Chereque
ARs: Benoit Lapassade & Jaouad Marboh
TMO: Cedric Marchat
USON Nevers v US Dax
Referee: Anthony Lac
ARs: Benjamin Hernandez & Frederic Masse
TMO: Laurent Sclafer