In The Rugby Championship, the Frenchman Pierre Brousset (pictured top left) makes his TRC debut in Sante Fe as the second of the back to back fixtures takes place. Similarly, it’s SA v NZ part two in Cape Town where Matthew Carley picks up the refereeing baton. Both saw tight results last week and there’ll be points to prove across both.
In Saitama, the Pacific Nations Cup continues with Hollie Davidson (top right) overseeing Japan v USA and Angus Gardner has Tonga v Fiji. As WXV nears at the end of the month, the teams are starting their warm up fixtures. England v France (Kat Roche referees (bottom left)) and Scotland v Wales (Aurélie Groizeleau) could both be worth keeping a close eye on, as could the SA v Barbarians tie down south!
It’s a welcome return of the Top 14 in France as the new management oversees the opening weekend. They join the ProD2, plus we have the Currie Cup final round officials from SA, as well as all the New Zealand and Scotland domestic leagues in action. In NZ, congrats to Angus Mabey (bottom right) who refs his 100th first-class 15s game as he whistles the NPC/Ranfurly Shield match between Hawke’s Bay and Tasman. He becomes only the 21st person to achieve this in New Zealand Rugby history. Finally, there’s Asia 7s action in Korea – all the MOs listed below.
Enjoy your weekend
Keith
The Rugby Championship – round 4
South Africa v New Zealand (in Cape Town)
Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng)
ARs: Andrew Brace (Ire) & Jordan Way (Aus)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
Argentina v Australia (in Sante Fe)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ) & James Doleman (NZ)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
Pacific Nations Cup – round 3
Tonga v Fiji (in Nuku’alofa)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Aus)
ARs: Reuben Keane (Aus) & George Myers (Aus)
TMO: Damon Murphy (Aus)
Japan v USA (in Saitama)
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Sco)
ARs: Sam Grove-White (Sco) & Morgan White (HKC)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (NZ)
Women’s WXV warm ups
Scotland v Wales (in Edinburgh)
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (Fra)
ARs: Mélissa Leboeuf (Fra) & Maria Heitor (Por)
TMO: Dan Jones (Eng)
England v France (in Gloucester)
Referee: Kat Roche (USA)
ARs: Clara Munarini (Ita) & Chelsea Gillespie (Sco)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Sco)
South Africa v Barbarians (Cape Town)
Referee: Zoe Naude (SA)
ARs: Bulela Qwane (SA) & Martie Mostert (SA)
TMO: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SA)
Asia Rugby Sevens Series – round 1 (in Incheon, Korea)
Referees:Craig Chan Chung Ho (HKC), Ano Kuwai (Jpn), Jaco De Wit (UAE), Sonny Lin (Chinese Taipei), Ishanka Abeykoon (Sri Lanka), Hibiki Ikeda (Jpn), Tetsuya Hirakawa (Jpn), Leow Wei Liang (Sing), Sunny Lee Chui Yan (HKC), Ibuki Tetsuka (Jpn) & Francisco Cammisa (HKC)
TMOs: Matthew Rodden (HKC) & Taku Otsuki (Jpn)
France: France: Top 14 – round 1
Aviron Bayonnais v USA Perpignan
Referee: Luc Ramos
ARs: Benoit Albert Bonnafous & Pierre Baptiste Nuchy
TMO: Cedric Marchat
ASM Clermont v Section Paloise
Referee: Vivien Praderie
ARs: Frederic Chazal & Thomas Chereque
TMO: Eric Briquet Campin
Castres Olympique v Racing 92
Referee: Benoit Rousselet
ARs: Stephane Coulon & Richard Duhau
TMO: Julien Castaignede
Montpellier Hérault Rugby v LOU Rugby
Referee: Jeremy Rozier
ARs: Christophe Bultet & Tual Trainini
TMO: Jean Luc Rebollal
Union Bordeaux-Bègles v Stade Français Paris
Referee: Vincent Blasco Baque
ARs: Nicolas Bridoux & Flavien Hourquet
TMO: Jonathan Dufort
Jonathan Dufort
Stade Rochelais v RC Toulon
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
ARs: Stephane Boyer & Kevin Bralley
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
RC Vannes v Stade Toulousain
Referee: Adrien Marbot
ARs: Sylvain Jaymes & Jean Lespes
TMO: Eric Gauzins
France: ProD2 – round 2
AS Béziers Hérault v Biarritz Olympique PB
Referee: Jonathan Gasnier
ARs: David Beun & Mourad Gharbi Tarchouna
TMO: Jean Luc Rebollal
Soyaux-Angoulême XV v CA Brive
Referee: Pierre Bru
ARs: Benoit Lapassade & Herve Lasausa
TMO: Patrick Dellac
Colomiers Rugby v Stade Aurillacois
Referee: Cyrille Boulay
ARs: Christophe Gaillardon & Thibault Santamaria
TMO: Bruno Bessot
Oyonnax Rugby v USON Nevers
Referee: Anthony Lac
ARs: Sylvain Brayelle & Thomas Chereque
TMO: Akim Hadj Bachir
SU Agen v Stade Niçois Rugby
Referee: Ludovic Carrillo
ARs: Benjamin Beuriot & Ghyslain Elias
TMO: Christophe Berdos
US Montalbanaise v Stade Montois Rugby
Referee: Stephane Coulon
ARs: Kevin Bralley & Denis Daste
TMO: Patrick Pechambert
Patrick Pechambert
Valence Romans v US Dax
Referee: Mathieu Noirot
ARs: Julien Camus & Fabrice Hand
TMO: Mourad Zitouni
FC Grenoble Rugby v Provence Rugby
Referee: Evan Urruzmendi
ARs: Julien Caulier & Frederic Masse
TMO: Laurent Sclafer
South Africa: Carling Currie Cup Premier Division
Suzuki Griquas v DHL Western Province
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron
ARs: TBC
TMO: Griffin Colby
Fidelity ADT Lions v NovaVit Griffons
Referee: Morne Ferreira
ARs: TBC
TMO: Ben Crouse
Airlink Pumas v Toyota Cheetahs
Referee: Christopher Allison
ARs: Paul Mente & Hanru van Rooyen
TMO: Stephan Geldenhuys
Hollywoodbets Sharks XV v Vodacom Bulls
Referee: Griffin Colby
ARs: TBC
TMO: Morne Ferreira
Scotland: Premiership (Men’s) 2024-25
Hawick v Marr
Referee: Fergus Hollins
ARs: Colin George & Digby Thomas
Heriot’s Rugby Men v Edinburgh Academical
Referee: Ian Kenny
ARs: Murray Galloway & Allan Parry
Watsonians v Ayr
Referee: Samuel O’Neil
ARs: David Changlend & Sean Mallon
Musselburgh v Kelso
Referee: John Smith
ARs: Walter Gaffney & Dave McKervail
Currie Chieftains v Melrose Rugby
Referee: Rob McDowell
ARs: Josiah Yuen & Brian McGuff
Selkirk v Glasgow Hawks
Referee: David Young
ARs: Charles Samson & Bob Nevins
Scotland: Premiership (Women’s) 2024-25
Garioch WRFC v Heriots Rugby Women
Referee: Yvonne Tunnicliff
ARs: Jess Buter & Andrew Laing
Corstorphine Cougars WRFC v Stewartry WRFC
Referee: Allan McMaster
ARs: John Hawryluk-Beaton & Victoria Lindsay-McGee
Watsonians WRFC v Hillhead Jordanhill WRFC
Referee: Lee McWhinnie
ARs: Murdo Wilson & George Downie
New Zealand: Bunnings NPC – round 5
Bay of Plenty v Manawatu
Referee: Todd Petrie
ARs: Tiana Anderson & Sam Fellows
TMO: Shane McDermott
Wellington v Southland
Referee: Nick Hogan
ARs: Matt Thomas & Jamie Fairmaid
TMO: Jared Clarke
Auckland v North Harbour
Referee: Fraser Hannon
ARs: Sam Adam & Adam Palmer
TMO: Rob Harman
Otago v Canterbury
Referee: Paul Williams
ARs: Craig Anderson & Brandon Hale
TMO: Rob Wells
Hawke’s Bay v Tasman (Ranfurly Shield)
Referee: Angus Mabey
ARs: Dan Waenga & Stu Catley
TMO: Mark Johnson
Taranaki v Waikato
Referee: Stu Curran
ARs: Warwick Lahmert & Will Johnston
TMO: Richard Kelly
Counties Manukau v Northland
Referee: Jono Bredin
ARs: Brandon Roberts & Robert Shore
TMO: John Wright
NZ: Bunnings Heartland Championship – Round 4
Horowhenua Kapiti v Mid Canterbury
Referee: Jack Sargentina
ARs: Sam Taylor & Quentin Hathaway
North Otago v East Coast
Referee: Chris Paul
ARs: Nick Webster & John Keenan
Poverty Bay v Wairarapa Bush
Referee: Tim Oliff
ARs: Royce Maynard & Matt Smith
South Canterbury v King Country
Referee: Caleb Neilson
ARs: Josh Rooney & Chris Renfrew
Thames Valley v Whanganui
Referee: Andy Morton
ARs: Stu Watts & TBC
Buller v West Coast
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr
ARs: Gary Reilly & Gareth Allen
Farah Palmer Cup Premiership – round 5
Auckland v Counties Manukau
Referee: Ben Woolerton
ARs: Wes van der Linde & Tertius de Villiers
Northland v Canterbury
Referee: Chloe Sampson
ARs: Rob Rush & John Filia
Waikato v Hawke’s Bay
Referee: Tiana Anderson
ARs: Jonathan Crosbie & Kaitlin Bates
NZ: Farah Palmer Cup Championship – round 5
Tasman v Taranaki
Referee: Erin Doherty
ARs: Andrew Matthews & Brad Evans
Otago v Wellington
Referee: Taneika Uerata
ARs: Brandon Hale & Amy Eason
Manawatu v North Harbour
Referee: Matty McEwen
ARs: Carl Baker & Warwick Price
