One of the few weekends in our rugby year with predominantly only international level fare on offer. Sure we’ll survive! Paul Williams kicks things off in Samoa (v Italy), with his Kiwi compadre, Angus Mabey (pictured top right) refereeing his first test on the either side of the date line, as he becomes NZ’s 88th test referee in an Independence Day match between USA and Romania. With summer tours all over the place, the big one seems to be the All Blacks hosting England in Dunedin. Georgia’s Nika Amashukeli (top left) is the man with the whistle.
There’s the one women’s international with Tarsh Ganley (bottom right) adding another cap as the Wallaroos host the Fijiana in Sydney. Today (Thursday) sees round two of the u20 World Championships after a close round one at the weekend. Aimee Barrett-Theron (bottom left) will oversee the Wales v Spain encounter. Theres also the start of the Womens Six Nations summer series which is a pathway competition and so some new match officials will be gaining some valuable experience.
Outside of that, we only have domestic action in South Africa to bring you – the Currie Cup and Women’s premier and first division carries on.
Enjoy your rugby this weekend
Keith
Men’s internationals
Samoa v Italy
Referee: Paul Williams (NZ)
ARs: Dan Waenga & Tevita Rokovereni
USA v Romania (in Chicago)
Referee: Angus Mabey (NZ)
ARs: Marcus Playle & Robin Kaluzniak
TMO: Cam Russell
Georgia v Fiji (in Batumi)
Referee: Craig Evans (Wal)
ARs: Christophe Ridley (Eng) & Anthony Woodthorpe (Eng)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ire)
Japan XV v Maori All Blacks (in Achi, Toyota)
Referee: Damian Schneider (Arg)
ARs: Andrea Piardi & Luc Ramos
TMO: Oli Kellett
New Zealand v England (in Dunedin)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
ARs: Nic Berry & Jordan Way
TMO: Eric Gauzins
Australia v Wales (Sydney)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
ARs: Dr. Ben O’Keeffe & James Doleman TMO: Marius Jonker
South Africa v Ireland (in Pretoria)
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
ARs: Karl Dickson & Mike Adamson
TMO: Ben Whitehouse
Argentina v France (in Mendoza)
Referee: Chris Busby (Ire)
ARs: Andrew Brace & Eoghan Cross
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen
Uruguay v France (in Montevideo, on 9 July)
Referee: Angus Mabey (NZ)
ARs: Gonzalo de Achaval & Tomas Bertazza
Canada v Scotland (in Ottawa)
Referee: Adam Leal (Eng)
ARs: Kat Roche (USA) & Kahlil Harrison (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)
Chile v Hong Kong China (in Talca)
Referee: Gonzalo de Achaval (URU)
ARs: Francisco Gonzalez (URU) & Sergio Alvarenga (Paraguay)
Women’s international
Australia v Fiji
Referee: Natarsha Ganley (NZ)
ARs: Tiana Anderson & Chloe Sampson
TMO: Glenn Newman
Womens Six Nations u20s (in Palma)
France v Wales
Referee: Rebecca Piddlesden (Eng)
England v Ireland
Referee: Berenice Bralley (Fra)
Italy v Scotland
Referee: Shane Gaughan (Ire)
World Rugby u20 Championship – round 2 – 4 July
Ireland v Georgia
Referee: Reuben Keane (Aus)
ARs: Morne Ferreira & Zoe Naude
TMO: Damon Murphy
France v New Zealand
Referee: Adam Jones (Wal)
ARs: Federico Vedovelli & Morne Ferreira
TMO: Ben Whitehouse
South Africa v Argentina
Referee: Takehito Namekawa (Jpn)
ARs: Federico Vedovelli & Zoe Naude
TMO: Damon Murphy
Wales v Spain
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SA)
ARs: AJ Jacobs & Griffin Colby
TMO: Mike Adamson
England v Fiji
Referee: Saba Abulashvili (Geo)
ARs: Neheun Jauri Rivero & AJ Jacobs
TMO: Matteo Liperini
Australia v Italy
Referee: Sam Grove White (Sco)
ARs: Neheun Jauri Rivero & Griffin Colby
TMO: Mark Patton
u20 Championship – round 3 – 9 July
Ireland v Australia
Referee: Morne Ferreira (SA)
ARs: Adam Jones & Saba Abulashvili
TMO: Ian Tempest
France v Wales
Referee: Neheun Jauri Rivero (Arg)
ARs: Saba Abulashvili & Christopher Allison
TMO: Matteo Liperini
South Africa v England
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Ita)
ARs: Adam Jones & Paul Mente
TMO: Ben Whitehouse
Argentina v Fiji
Referee: Sam Grove White (Sco)
ARs: Aimee Barrett-Theron & AJ Jacobs
TMO: Mark Patton
Georgia v Italy
Referee: Takehito Namekawa (Jpn)
ARs: Aimee Barrett-Theron & Griffin Colby
TMO: Mike Adamson
New Zealand v Spain
Referee: Reuben Keane (Aus)
ARs: AJ Jacobs & Griffin Colby
TMO: Tual Tranini
World Rugby U20 Trophy – Round 2 – all on 7 July
Uruguay v USA
Referee: Sylvain Mane (Sen)
ARs: Ethan Glass & Ciaran Stark
Scotland v Hong King China
Referee: Nicolai Fratila (Rom)
ARs: Katsuki Furuse & Ethan Glass
Japan v Samoa
Referee: Caua Ricardo (Bra)
ARs: Ru Campbell & Michael Todd
Netherlands v Kenya
Referee: Lex Weiner (USA)
ARs: Morgan White & Michael Todd
South Africa: Carling Currie Cup Premier Division
Suzuki Griquas v Airlink Pumas
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Hollywoodbets Sharks v Fidelity ADT Lions
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Toyota Cheetahs v NovaVit Griffons
Referee: Paul Mente
DHL Western Province v Vodacom Bulls
Referee: Griffin Colby
South Africa: Carling Currie Cup First Division
Phangela SWD Eagles v Valke
Referee: Phumzile Mbewu
Border Bulldogs v Eastern Province
Referee: Ruhan Meiring
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers v Leopards
Referee: Christopher Allison
South Africa: Women’s Premier Division
Border Ladies v Sanlam Boland Dames
Referee: Bulela Qwane
EP Queens v Free State Women
Referee: Andiswa Mbilase
Golden Lions Women v DHL Western Province
Referee: Cammy Dyers
South Africa: Women’s First Division
Griquas Women v Valke Women
Referee: Daniel Canhenga
Pumas Women v Limpopo Women
Referee: Yohane Halgryn
Griffons Women v SWD Eagirls
Referee: Aneka Fick