Rugby referee appointments 26 Sept-2 Oct

Big weekend for rugby around the world. WXV kicks off in Vancouver, Cape Town and Dubai, with 2024 Rugby Championship finishing up in Wellington and Cape Town. Aurélie Groizeleau takes charge of the opening game in WXV1 as USA play the Roses. In Cape Town, the USA’s Amelia Luciano (top right) referees Italy v Scotland, and in WXV3 in Dubai, Melissa Leboeuf from France (bottom right) takes the whistle in Spain v Madagascar.

In South Africa, it’s a milestone weekend for Ben O’Keeffe (pictured top left) who becomes NZ’s most capped test referee – his 47th test. He surpasses Paul Honiss’ previous record which has stood since 2008. Nika Amashukeli has the other TRC round six tie in NZ. Eagle eyes will spot Angus Gardner of Australia in the NPC this weekend & Wed when he becomes the first non-NZ referee to control a Ranfurly Shield game.

As well as all that, we’ve got URC teams of 4 (congrats to debutant Christopher Allison (pic right) in the Scarlets v Cardiff match), plus domestic appointments from England’s Prem (Adam Leal, main pic bottom left) on duty) and Championship; Ireland, Scotland and NZ;s women’s and men’s leagues, Top14 & ProD2 in France, plus Rugby Europe tests too.

Enjoy your weekend
Keith

WXV – round 1

WXV1 (all at BC Place, Vancouver)
USA v England
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (Fra)
ARs: Julianne Zussman (Can) & Host Union
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA)

Canada v France
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZ)
ARs: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SA) & Kat Roche (USA)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ire)

New Zealand v Ireland
Referee: Sara Cox (Eng)
ARs: Kat Roche (USA) & Host Union
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)

WXV 2 (all at DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
South Africa v Japan
Referee: Maria Latos (GER)
ARs: Precious Pazani (ZIM) & Ella Goldsmith (Aus)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)

Australia v Wales
Referee: Clara Munarini (Ita)
ARs: Zoe Naude (SA) & Host Union
TMO: Aaron Paterson (NZ)

Italy v Scotland
Referee: Amelia Luciano (USA)
ARs: Precious Pazani (ZIM) & Host Union
TMO: Chris Assmus (Can)

WXV3 (all at The Sevens 2, Dubai)
Spain v Madagascar
Referee: Melissa Leboeuf (Fra)
ARs: Shanda Assmus (Can) & Sunny Lee (HKC)
TMO: Dan Jones (Eng)

Fiji v Hong Kong China
Referee: Tyler Miller (Aus)
ARs: Holly Wood (Eng) & Jess Ling (Aus)
TMO: Oli Kellet (Aus)

Netherlands v Samoa
Referee: Natarsha Ganley (NZ)
ARs: Shanda Assmus (Can) & Sunny Lee (HKC)
TMO: Rachel Horton (Aus)

The Rugby Championship – Round 6

New Zealand v Australia
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
ARs: Karl Dickson (Eng) & Damian Schneider (Arg)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)

South Africa v Argentina
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
ARs: James Doleman (NZ) & Craig Evans (Wal)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZ)

Rugby Europe Men’s Conference

Moldova v Turkey
Referee: Emmanuel Jacques (Den)
ARs: Dumitru Lungu (Mol) & Nazlican Erdogan (Tur)

Kosovo v Montenegro
Referee: Vadims Galajevs (Lat)

Rugby Europe Super Cup 2024

Black Lion v Castilla Y Leon Iberians
Referee: Alexandru Ionescu (Rou)
ARs: Cristian Serban (Rou) & Nicolae Fratila (Rou)

Romanian Wolves v Brussels Devils
Referee: Luis Fernandes (Spa)
ARs: Inaki Munoz (Spa) & Alvaro Garcia-Metas (Spa)

Delta v Bohemian Rugby Warriors
Referee: Diogo Miranda (POR)
ARs: Francisco Serra (POR) & Diogo Inacio (POR)

England: Gallagher Premiership – round 2

Bristol Bears v Gloucester Rugby
Referee: Tom Foley (132nd game)
ARs: Matthew Carley & Simon Harding
TMO: David Rose

Harlequins v Newcastle Falcons
Referee: Luke Pearce (152nd game)
ARs: Jack Makepeace & Jonathan Healy
TMO: Dean Richards

Saracens v Sale Sharks
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (32nd game)
ARs: Hamish Grant & Wayne Falla
TMO: Rowan Kitt

Northampton Saints v Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Adam Leal (39th game)
ARs: Mike Hudson & Peter Allan
TMO: Matthew Carley

Leicester Tigers v Bath Rugby
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (129th game)
ARs: Christophe Ridley & Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: Hamish Smales

England: RFU Championship

Cornish Pirates v Ealing Trailfinders
Referee: George Selwood
ARs: Veryan Boscawen & Calum Howard

Hartpury University v London Scottish
Referee: Richard Gordon
ARs: James Pidding & Kevin Williams

Doncaster Knights v Nottingham
Referee: Andy Wigley
ARs: Gregg Dawson & James Cornell

Caldy v Cambridge
Referee: Joe James
ARs: Charlie Gayther & Simon Park

Coventry v Bedford Blues
Referee: Hamish Smales
ARs: Alex Thomas & Neil Chivers

Ampthill v Chinnor
Referee: Harry Walbaum
ARs: Mike Woods & Darryl Chapman

Ireland: Energia All Ireland League 1A 24/25

City of Armagh v St Marys College RFC
Referee: Jonathan Erskine

Clontarf v Garryowen
Referee: Peter Martin

Cork Constitution v Ballynahinch
Referee: Andrew Cole

Lansdowne v UCD
Referee: Chris Busby

Young Munster v Terenure College RFC
Referee: Padraic Reidy

Ireland: Energia Womens AIL League 24/25

Blackrock College RFC v UL Bohemian
Referee: Cillian Hogan

Railway Union v Old Belvedere
Referee: Jack MacNeice

BKT United Rugby Championship – Round 2

Glasgow Warriors v Benetton
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU, 22nd game)
ARs: Ru Campbell (SRU) & Michael Todd (SRU)
TMO: Christopher Allison (SARU)

Leinster v Dragons RFC
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 83rd game)
ARs: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) & Tomas O’Sullivan (IRFU)
TMO: Dave Sutherland (SRU)

Emirates Lions v Ulster
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 46th game)
ARs: AJ Jacobs (SARU) & Henru van Rooyen (SARU)
TMO: Keith David (WRU)

Vodacom Bulls v Edinburgh Rugby
Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, 4th game)
ARs: Griffon Colby (SARU) & Dylan November (SARU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Zebre Parma v Munster
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU, 15th game)
ARs: Andrea Piardi (FIR) & Alex Frasson (FIR)
TMO: Neil Hennessy (WRU)

Scarlets v Cardiff Rugby
Referee: Christopher Allison (SARU, debut)
ARs: Mike English (WRU) & Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)

Connacht v Hollywoodbets Sharks
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR, 10th game)
ARs: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) & Paul Haycock (IRFU)
TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)

Ospreys v DHL Stormers
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 96th game)
ARs: Rhys Jones (WRU) & Ben Connor (WRU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

France: Top 14 – round 4

USA Perpignan v ASM Clermont
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
ARs: Nicolas Bridoux & Evan Urruzmendi
TMO: Julien Castaignede

Aviron Bayonnais v Montpellier Hérault Rugby
Referee: Pierre Brousset
ARs: Pierre Bru & Laurent Millotte
TMO: Patrick Dellac

LOU Rugby v Castres Olympique
Referee: Vivien Praderie
ARs: Cyrille Le Gall & Jeremy Rozier
TMO: Eric Briquet Campin

Racing 92 v Stade Rochelais
Referee: Thomas Charabas
ARs: Benjamin Hernandez & Sylvain Jaymes
TMO: Denis Grenouillet

RC Toulon v RC Vannes
Referee: Kevin Bralley
ARs: Benoit Albert Bonnafous & Jonathan Gasnier
TMO: Jean Luc Rebollal

Section Paloise v Stade Français Paris
Referee: Luc Ramos
ARs: Stephane Crapoix & Adrien Marbot
TMO: Christophe Berdos

Stade Toulousain v Union Bordeaux-Bègles
Referee: Tual Trainini
ARs: Richard Duhau & Benoit Rousselet
TMO: Patrick Pechambert

France: ProD2 – Round 5

Biarritz Olympique PB v FC Grenoble Rugby
Referee: Pierre Bru
ARs: Benjamin Beuriot & Christophe Bultet
TMO: Julien Castaignede

Stade Montois Rugby v CA Brive
Referee: Stephane Coulon
ARs: Benjamin Beuriot & Stephane Boyer
TMO: Patrick Pechambert

Stade Aurillacois v AS Béziers Hérault
Referee: Herve Lasausa
ARs: Thomas Chereque & Walter Prache
TMO: Mourad Zitouni

Stade Niçois Rugby v Colomiers Rugby
Referee: Jean Lespes
ARs: Francois Bouzac & Mourad Gharbi Tarchouna
TMO: Cedric Marchat

US Dax v Soyaux-Angoulême XV
Referee: Anthony Lac
ARs: Frederic Masse & Mathieu Noirot
TMO: Akim Hadj Bachir

USON Nevers v US Montalbanaise
Referee: Ludovic Carrillo
ARs: Cyrille Boulay & Christian Coussan
TMO: Bruno Bessot

Valence Romans v SU Agen
Referee: David Beun
ARs: Denis Daste & Pierre Olivier Julien
TMO: Jean Luc Rebollal

Provence Rugby v Oyonnax Rugby
Referee: Vincent Blasco Baque
ARs: Remi Aiguebonne & Benoit Lapassade
TMO: Jonathan Dufort

Scotland: Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership

Heriot’s Rugby v Currie Chieftains
Referee: Fergus Hollins
ARs: Walter Gaffney & Willie Anderson

Melrose Rugby v Selkirk
Referee: Samuel O’Neil
ARs: David Changleng & Kevin McGhee

Hawick v Watsonians
Referee: Ciaran Stark
ARs: Craig McCann & Sean Niven

Marr v Kelso
Referee: David Young
ARs: Allan Parry & Sean Mallon

Edinburgh Academical v Musselburgh
Referee: Michael Todd
ARs: John Hawryluk-Beaton & Brian McGuff

Ayr v Glasgow Hawks
Referee: Ruairidh Campbell
ARs: Bryan Johnston & Digby Thomas

Scotland: Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership

Watsonians WRFC v Heriots Rugby Women
Referee: John Smith
ARs: Niamh Hay & Lee Murru

Hillhead Jordanhill WRFC v Corstorphine Cougars WRFC
Referee: Simon Aldridge
ARs: Murdo Wilson & Duncan Pine

Garioch WRFC v Stirling County WRFC
Referee: Cameron Derrett Moore
ARs: George Downie & James Ryder

Cartha Queens Park WRFC v Stewartry WRFC
Referee: Ronald Innes
ARs: Marsha Peasley & Sean Bicknell

New Zealand: Bunnings NPC – round 8

Counties Manukau v Wellington
Referee: Mike Winter
ARs: Brandon Roberts & Robert Shore
TMO: John Wright

Bay of Plenty v Northland
Referee: Marcus Playle
ARs: Sam Fellows & Peter Morgan
TMO: Shane McDermott

Hawke’s Bay v Auckland
Referee: Stu Curran
ARs: Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri & Jacob Booth
TMO: Jono Bredin

Otago v Tasman
Referee: Todd Petrie
ARs: Brandon Hale & Craig Anderson
TMO: Rob Wells

Southland v Waikato
Referee: Fraser Hannon
ARs: Josh Hamill & Taylor Swan
TMO: Andrew Rowland

North Harbour v Canterbury
Referee: Angus Gardner (Aus)
ARs: Dean Harris & Scott McKenzie
TMO: Jonathan Paterson

Taranaki v Manawatu
Referee: Paul Williams
ARs: Warwick Lahmert & Will Johnston
TMO: Richard Kelly

Tasman v Auckland (on Wed 2 Oct)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Aus)
ARs: Aidan Barnett & Brad Evans
TMO: Reece Weir

NZ: Heartland Championship – round 7

Buller v Mid Canterbury
Referee: Ben Alexander
ARs: Gary Reilly & Steve Petrie

King Country v North Otago
Referee: Andy Morton
ARs: Jamie Bell & Tony Prestage

Poverty Bay v Thames Valley
Referee: Matt Astle
ARs:TBC

South Canterbury v East Coast
Referee: Caleb Neilson
ARs: Josh Rooney & Toby Scannell

Wairarapa Bush v West Coast
Referee: Will Johnston
ARs: Alistair Payne & Andrew Stringer

Horowhenua Kapiti v Whanganui
Referee: Stu Catley
ARs: Sam Taylor & Jimmy McKay

NZ: Farah Palmer Cup – Premiership semi-finals

Counties Manukau v Canterbury
Referee: Erin Doherty
ARs: TBC

Waikato v Auckland
Referee: Warwick Lahmert
ARs: Ben Woolerton & Ben Brownlie

Hong Kong China: Nan Fung Group/AIRSIDE Men’s Premiership 

Societe Generale Valley RFC v DLA Piper Kowloon Rugby Club 
Referee: Morgan White (24th Prem Appointment) 
ARs: Nico Fox & Patrick Kwok

MND Hong Kong Scottish v Natixis HKFC Club 
Referee: Francesco Cammisa (15th Prem Appointment) 
ARs: Stephen Copeman & Owen Ford

Kroll USRC Tigers RFC v HKU Sandy Bay RFC 
Referee: Craig Chan (29th Prem Appointment) 
ARs: Rowan Turner & Sam Brown