It’s the final of the Pacific Nations Cup in Japan this weekend where Nic Berry (pictured top left) has the refereeing duties to attend to as the hosts play Fiji. Ben O’Keeffe does the third fourth place play off with USA playing Samoa. In doing so, he equals Paul Honnis’s record of 46 tests for a NZ referee.
In other internationals, it’s Rugby Championship round five (Karl Dickson and Christophe Ridley (on TRC debut) on either side of the planet); WXV warm ups (Precious Pazani (top left) on duty in Kenya); and some Rugby Europe fixtures too. Laura Wunsch from Austria (bottom right) heads to Bucharest for their women’s test match against Bulgaria. Congrats to Sara Cox who hits the 40th test cap milestone in Newport on Friday evening as Wales play the Wallaroos.
With the Top14 and ProD2 aready up and running, this weekend’s season openers are the Gallagher Premiership and the United Rugby Championship. There’s no SA teams involved this weekend as they give space for the big domestic cup final – the Currie Cup. Morne Ferreira takes charge of his first Currie Cup Final when the Lions host the Sharks in Johannesburg. Ben Breakspear (bottom left) has the first Welsh derby of the season (Dragons-Ospreys), and Luke Pearce referees his 151st Prem match, in a repeat of last year’s final – Bath v Northampton.
Go well everyone
Keith
Pacific Nations Cup finals
USA v Samoa – Third place play-off
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
ARs: Craig Evans (Wal) & Takehito Namekawa (Jpn)
TMO: Tual Trainini (Fra)
Fiji v Japan – Final
Referee: Nic Berry (Aus)
ARs: Paul Williams (NZ) & Morgan White (HKC)
TMO: Damon Murphy (Aus)
Rugby Championship – round 5
Australia v New Zealand
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Damian Schneider (Arg)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (Eng)
Argentina v South Africa
Referee: Christophe Ridley (Eng)
ARs: Matt Carley (Eng) & Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
WXV Warm ups
South Africa v Spain
Referee: Zoe Naude (SA)
ARs: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SA) & Dylan November (SA)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA)
Netherlands v Fiji
Referee: Mélissa Leboeuf (Fra)
ARs: Katherine Ritchie (Ned) & Marit Bras (Ned)
Kenya v Madagascar
Referee: Precious Pazani (Zim)
ARs: KRU appointments
Wales v Australia
Referee: Sara Cox (Eng)
ARs: Holly Wood (Eng) & Chelsea Gillespie (Sco)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Sco)
Rugby Europe – Women’s Conference
Romania Women v Bulgaria Women
Referee: Laura Wunsch (Austria)
Rugby Europe Super Cup 2024
Lusitanos v Black Lion
Referee: Alex Frasson (Ita)
ARs: Alberto Favoaro (Ita) & Simone Boaretto (Ita)
Brussels Devils v Bohemia Warriors
Referee: Eugeniu Procpi (Mol)
ARs: Anatol Tipa (Mol) & Victor Lungu (Mol)
Romanian Wolves v Delta
Referee: Saba Abulashvili (Geo)
ARs: Sulkhan Chikladze (Geo) & Giga Mshvenieradze (Geo)
South Africa: Carling Currie Cup – Premier Division Final
Fidelity ADT Lions v Hollywoodbets Sharks XV
Referee: Morne Ferreira
ARs: Griffin Colby & Stephan Geldenhuys
TMO: Egon Seconds
BKT United Rugby Championship – Round 1
Cardiff Rugby v Zebre Parma
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 19th league game)
ARs: Mike English (WRU) & Rhys Jones (WRU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Edinburgh Rugby v Leinster
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 46th league game)
ARs: Jonny Perriam (SRU) & Michael Todd (SRU)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)
Dragons RFC v Ospreys
Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, 3rd league game)
ARs: Mike English (WRU) & Ben Connor (WRU)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
Munster v Connacht
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 43rd league game)
ARs: Andrew Cole (IRFU) & Dan Carson (IRFU)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Benetton v Scarlets
Referee: Ian Kenny (SRU, 4th league game)
ARs: Fillipo Russo (FIR) AR 2: Franco Rosella (FIR)
TMO: Dave Sutherland (SRU)
Ulster v Glasgow Warriors
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU, 38th league game)
ARs: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU) & Padraig Reidy (IRFU)
TMO: Tom Spurrier (WRU)
England: Gallagher Premiership – round 1
Newcastle Falcons v Bristol Bears
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (31st Premiership match)
ARs: Hamish Smales & John Meredith
TMO: Dean Richards
Bath Rugby v Northampton Saints
Referee: Luke Pearce (151st Premiership match)
ARs: Dan Jones & Jamie Leahy
TMO: Tom Foley
Exeter Chiefs v Leicester Tigers
Referee: Tom Foley (131st Premiership match)
ARs: George Selwood & Jonathan Healy
TMO: David Rose
Gloucester Rugby v Saracens
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (128th Premiership match)
ARs: Andrew Jackson & Peter Allan
TMO: Rowan Kitt
Sale Sharks v Harlequins
Referee: Adam Leal (38th Premiership match)
ARs: Jack Makepeace & Greg Macdonald
TMO: Andrew Jackson
England: RFU Championship – round 1
Nottingham v Cornish Pirates
Referee: Jack Makepeace
ARs: James Clarke James Cornell
London Scottish v Coventry
Referee: Hamish Grant
ARs: Andy Wigley & Ryan Collier
Doncaster Knights v Ampthill
Referee: Mike Hudson
ARs: Gregg Dawson & Wayne Falla
Cambridge v Chinnor
Referee: Richard Gordon
ARs: Calum Howard & James Pidding
Ealing Trailfinders v Hartpury University
Referee: Alex Thomas
ARs: Hamish Grant & Veryan Boscawen
Bedford Blues v Caldy
Referee: Harry Walbaum
ARs: Neil Chivers & James Clarke
England: PWR – Pre-season Power Up series
Saracens Women v Trailfinders Women
Referee: Nikki O’Donnell
ARs: Simon Adams & Darryl Chapman
Bristol Bears Women v Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC
Referee: Charlie Gayther
ARs: Fiona Brunt & Kevin Williams
Loughborough Lightning v Leicester Tigers Women
Referee: Kasey Allen
ARs: James Cornell & Simon Park
France: Top14 – round 3
Montpellier Hérault Rugby v Stade Toulousain
Referee: Jonathan Gasnier
ARs: Anthony Lac & Thierry Mallet
TMO: Cedric Marchat
ASM Clermont v Aviron Bayonnais
Referee: Vincent Blasco Baque
ARs: Stephane Coulon & Stephane Crapoix
TMO: Jonathan Dufort
Castres Olympique v USA Perpignan
Referee: Adrien Marbot
ARs: Stephane Boyer & Benoit Rousselet
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
RC Vannes v LOU Rugby
Referee: Thomas Charabas
ARs: Laurent Millotte & Pierre Baptiste Nuchy
TMO: Akim Hadj Bachir
Stade Rochelais v Section Paloise
Referee: Jeremy Rozier
ARs: Benoit Albert Bonnafous & Vivien Praderie
TMO: Patrick Pechambert
Union Bordeaux-Bègles v Racing 92
Referee: Luc Ramos
ARs: Christophe Bultet & Evan Urruzmendi
TMO: Julien Castaignede
Stade Français Paris v RC Toulon
Referee: Pierre Brousset
ARs: Kevin Bralley & Christophe Gaillardon
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
France: ProD2 – round 4
FC Grenoble Rugby v US Dax
Referee: Cyrille Boulay
ARs: Mourad Gharbi Tarchouna & Herve Lasausa
TMO: Jonathan Dufort
US Montalbanaise v Biarritz Olympique PB
Referee: Mathieu Noirot
ARs: Julien Caulier & Frederic Chazal
TMO: Christophe Berdos
CA Brive v Stade Aurillacois
Referee: Benjamin Hernandez
ARs: Sylvain Brayelle & Stephane Coulon
TMO: Jean Luc Rebollal
Colomiers Rugby v Valence Romans
Referee: Ludovic Carrillo
ARs: David Beun & Christian Coussan
TMO: Mourad Zitouni
Oyonnax Rugby v Stade Niçois Rugby
Referee: Thomas Chereque
ARs: Remy Charleroy & Walter Prache
TMO: Bruno Bessot
Soyaux-Angoulême XV v Stade Montois Rugby
Referee: Evan Urruzmendi
ARs: Ghyslain Elias & Jean Lespes
TMO: Laurent Sclafer
SU Agen v USON Nevers
Referee: Flavien Hourquet
ARs: Benjamin Beuriot & Fabrice Hand
TMO: Patrick Dellac
AS Béziers Hérault v Provence Rugby
Referee: Pierre Bru
ARs: Denis Daste & Thibault Santamaria
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
Ireland: Energia All Ireland League 1A 24/25
Ballynahinch v City of Armagh
Referee: Peter Martin
Garryowen v Lansdowne
Referee: Andrew Fogarty
St Marys College RFC v Clontarf
Referee: Christopher Lough
Terenure College RFC v Cork Constitution
Referee: Stuart Gaffikin
UCD v Young Munster
Referee: Keane Davison
New Zealand: Bunnings NPC – round 7
Hawke’s Bay v Taranaki
Referee: Marcus Playle
ARs: Stu Catley & Matt Astle
TMO: Jono Bredin
Northland v North Harbour
Referee: Todd Petrie
ARs: Stephan Ball & Leo Palmer
TMO: Llew Smart
Canterbury v Counties Manukau
Referee: Fraser Hannon
ARs: Karl Hancox & John Whitcombe
TMO: Liam Scanlon
Wellington v Bay of Plenty
Referee: Angus Mabey
ARs: Matt Thomas & Jamie Fairmaid
TMO: Jared Clarke
Waikato v Tasman
Referee: Stu Curran
ARs: Ben Woolerton & Ben Brownlie
TMO: John Wright
Auckland v Southland
Referee: Jono Bredin
ARs: Tomas Roche & Nathan Chestnut
TMO: Robert Harman
Manawatu v Otago
Referee: Dan Waenga
ARs: Sam Couper & Matt Booth
TMO: Carl Baker
Taranaki v North Harbour
Referee: Damian Schneider
ARs: Paul Williams & Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly
NZ: Heartland Championship – round 6
North Otago v Mid Canterbury
Referee: Will Todd
ARs: TBC
Poverty Bay v King Country
Referee: Stu Catley
ARs: TBC
Thames Valley v Buller
Referee: Ben Woolerton
ARs: Stu Watts & Ryan Rogers
Whanganui v Wairarapa Bush
Referee: Jack Sargentina
ARs: Jacob Booth & Amon Rimene
West Coast v East Coast
Referee: Dan Moore
ARs: Chris O’Malley & Andrew Robb
Horowhenua Kapiti v South Canterbury
Referee: Andy Morton
ARs: Randal Peni & Josh Rooney
NZ: Farah Palmer Cup – round 7
Northland v Waikato
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr
ARs: Llew Smart & Leo Palmer
Auckland v Hawke’s Bay
Referee: Sam Adam
ARs: Tomas Roche & Antony Petrie
Bay of Plenty v Canterbury
Referee: Warwick Lahmert ARs: TBC
NZ: Farah Palmer Cup – Championship Final
Manawatu v Otago
Referee: Tiana Anderson
ARs: Matty McEwen & Warrick Price
TMO: Carl Baker
Scotland: Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership
Stirling County WRFC v Hillhead Jordanhill WRFC
Referee: Lee Fish
ARs: Walter Gaffney & Colin George
Corstorphine Cougars WRFC v Heriots Rugby Women
Referee: Matthew Wilkie
ARs: Rosie Evans & Sean Bicknell
Cartha Queens Park WRFC v Garioch WRFC
Referee: Graeme Dryburgh-Cook
ARs: Allana McLean & Ross Smillie
Stewartry WRFC v Watsonians WRFC
Referee: Yvonne Tunnicliff
ARs: George Downie & Marsha Peasley
Scotland: Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership
Watsonians v Edinburgh Academical
Referee: Samuel O’Neil
ARs: Scott Cubitt & Willie Anderson
Heriot’s Rugby Men v Marr
Referee: Rob McDowell
ARs: Kyle McAlinden & Brian McGuff
Glasgow Hawks v Kelso
Referee: Ciaran Stark
ARs: Kevin McGhee & John Hawryluk-Beaton
Selkirk v Ayr
Referee: John Smith
ARs: Sean Mallon & Bob Nevins
Currie Chieftains v Hawick
Referee: Mike Adamson
ARs: Charles Samson & Stephen Ward
Musselburgh v Melrose Rugby
Referee: Stephen Young
ARs: David Changleng & Digby Thomas
Why not include The Championship match officials in this excellent weekly output? You do include Tier 2 France after all!
Basically, it’s because we aren’t psychic. As far as we can see, they aren’t publicly available. Perhaps you might know of someone in the RFRU who might make that case to the RFU to publish them? We can only do so much with hunting stuff down, or being sent them by some excellent people all over the world. I will keep trying!
You’ll be pleased to know, ive now added them