In Japan, the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship kicks off with Sunny Lee (pictured top left) from Hong Kong China refereeing the opener as the hosts play Kazakhstan. Also on the eastern (& down a bit) part of the globe Kat Roche (bottom left) is in Christchurch as the Black Ferns play Canada – that could be quite the match-up after Canada beat them on home turf last year in WXV. Kat’s fellow RWC25 referee, Aimee Barrett-Theron has the other PAC4 match as the Wallaroos host the USA Eagles.
There’s League One play offs in Japan, and semi-finals of the SA Cup – Dylen November (top right) has the Griquas v Cheetahs match with Sean Muller has the other one as Pumas play the Kavaliers. There’s also semi finals (seocnd leg) in Italy’s domestic Serie A league. Go well everyone. In the Premiership, it’s a milestone match for Matthew Carley (bottom right) who clocks up #150 as Newcastle play Gloucester. We’ve also got the refsquads for the MLR and WER, Jakarta 10s, Top 14 and ProD2 in France, Super Rugby in the Pacific and S Americas, URC, and finally, England’s RFU Championship and some more of the Armed Forces series.
Enjoy your weekend’s rugby
Keith
Asia Rugby Women’s Championship 2025
15 May – Japan v Kazakhstan
Referee: Sunny Lee (HKC)
ARs: Craig Chan (HKC) & TBC
TMO: Just Wang (Sin)
20 May – Hong Kong China v Kazakhstan
Referee: Ano Kuwai (Jpn)
ARs: Hibiki Ikeda (Jpn) & Koki Yamamuchi (Jpn)
TMO: Tasuku Kawahara (Jpn)
PAC 4 – week 3
Australia v USA (in Canberra)
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SA)
ARs: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZ) & Natarsha Ganley (NZ)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (NZ)
FPRO: Rachel Horton (Aus)
New Zealand v Canada (in Christchurch)
Referee: Kat Roche (USA)
ARs: Ella Goldsmith (Aus) & Jess Ling (Aus)
TMO: Oli Kellet (Aus)
FPRO: Estelle Whaiapu (NZ)
Women’s u20s international
Ireland v Canada
Refeee: Siobhán Sal (Ire)
ARs: Alana Kerr & Caitlin Fisher
England: Gallagher Premiership – round
Sale Sharks v Bristol Bears
Referee: Adam Leal (50th Premiership match)
ARs: Karl Dickson & Jamie Leahy
TMO: Andrew Jackson
Newcastle Falcons v Gloucester Rugby
Referee: Matthew Carley (150th Premiership match)
ARs: Hamish Grant & Neil Chivers
TMO: Hamish Smales
Northampton Saints v Saracens
Referee: Luke Pearce (161st Premiership match)
ARs: George Selwood & Simon Harding
TMO: Dean Richards
Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (42nd Premiership match)
ARs: Jack Makepeace & Wayne Falla
TMO: David Rose
Harlequins v Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Joe James (2nd Premiership match)
ARs: Karl Dickson & Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: Dean Richards
England: RFU Championship
Cornish Pirates v Ampthill
Referee: Dan Jones
ARs: Jonathan Healy & Kevin Williams
Caldy v Ealing Trailfinders
Referee: Andrew Jackson
ARs: Gregg Dawson & Simon Park
Chinnor v London Scottish
Referee: Alan Chandrachud
ARs: Richard Gordon & James Pidding
Coventry v Nottingham
Referee: Ian Tempest
ARs: Henry Pearson & Veryan Boscawen
Cambridge v Bedford Blues
Referee: Ben Simpson
ARs: Iain Kiy & James Cornell
Hartpury University v Doncaster Knights
Referee: Charlie Gayther
ARs: Jack Sutton & Simon Adams
England: Armed Forces matches
(all at Kingsholm, Gloucester)
Army Masters v RAF Vultures
Referee: Simon Aldridge (RN)
ARs: Si Reeves (Royal Marines) & Andy Gregory (RM)
Army Women v RAF Women
Referee: Kev Lewis (RN Police)
ARs: Gaz Fairbairn (RN) & Heather Addison-Prout (RN)
Army Men’s v RAF Men’s
Referee: Mike Hudson (RFU)
ARs: Tom Evans-Jones (RM) & Si Long (RM)
Super Rugby Pacific – round 14
Hurricanes v Highlanders
Referee: Marcus Playle
ARs: Fraser Hannon & Stu Curran
TMO: Glenn Newman
Waratahs v Crusaders
Referee: Paul Williams
ARs: Angus Mabey & Mike Winter
TMO: Richard Kelly
Fijian Drua v Force
Referee: Jordan Way
ARs: Matt Kellahan & Jeremy Markey
TMO: Brett Cronan
Moana Pasifika v Blues
Referee: Angus Gardner
ARs: Graham Cooper & Ben O’Keeffe
TMO: Glenn Newman
Brumbies v Reds
Referee: Nic Berry
ARs: Damon Murphy & Jordan Kaminski
TMO: James Leckie
BKT United Rugby Championship – Round 18
DHL Stormers v Cardiff Rugby
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 41st league game)
ARs: AJ Jacobs (SARU) & Hanru van Rooyen (SARU)
TMO: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Edinburgh Rugby v Ulster
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU, 67th league game)
ARs: Ru Campbell (SRU) & Rob McDowell (SRU)
TMO: Tom Spurrier (WRU)
Munster v Benetton
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 90th league game)
ARs: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU) & Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: David Sutherland (SRU)
Vodacom Bulls v Dragons RFC
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 105th league game)
ARs: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU) & AJ Jacobs (SARU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Emirates Lions v Ospreys
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 29th league game)
ARs: Christopher Allison (SARU) & Dylen November (SARU)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Zebre Parma v Connacht
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU, 21st league game)
ARs: Filippo Russo (FIR) & Clara Munarini (FIR)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
Hollywoodbets Sharks v Scarlets
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 53rd league game)
ARs: Griffin Colby (SARU) & Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU)
TMO: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
Leinster v Glasgow Warriors
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 108th league game)
ARs: Keane Davison (IRFU) & Stuart Gaffikin (IRFU)
TMO: Keith David (WRU)
Japan: League One Division 1 play-offs
Shizuoka Blue Revs v Kobelco Kobe Steelers
Referee: Katsuki Furuse
ARs: Koki Yamauchi & Toshimasa Sekiya
TMO: Takehito Namekawa
Kubota Spears v Tokyo Sungoliath
Referee: Takehito Namekawa
ARsL Ibuki Tetsuka & Atsushi Yamamoto
TMO: Katsuki Furuse
USA: Major League Rugby – week 14
Miami Sharks v New England Free Jacks
Referee: Mike Lawrenson
ARs: Peter Martin & Kye Martinovic
TMO: Derek Summers
Houston Sabercats v Utah Warriors
Referee: Federico Anselmi
ARs: Marquise Goodwin & Blair McClure
TMO: Mike Kelly
Seattle Seawolves v San Diego Legion
Referee: Lex Weiner
ARs: Kahlil Harrison & Marty Steffens
TMO: Austin Reed
Anthem Rugby Carolina v Old Glory DC
Referee: Peter Martin
ARs: Mike Lawrenson & Dave Edwards
TMO: Austin Reed
Chicago Hounds v RFC Los Angeles
Referee: Robin Kaluzniak
ARs: Miles McIvor & Matt Lake
TMO: Chris O’Malley
USA: Women’s Elite Rugby – round 9
Banshees v Tempest
Referee: Juan Pablo Parra
ARs: Anna Mcmahan & Geoff Tancredi
Exiles v Gemini
Referee: Sybil Levine
ARs: Constantijn Bakker & Sam Tancredi
Italy: Serie A (men’s) Semi-final – 2nd leg
Rugby Viadana 1970 (29) v Valoraugby Emilia (13)
Referee: Riccardo Angelucci
ARs: Federico Vedovelli & Alberto Favaro
TMO: Stefano Roscini
Rugby Rovigo Delta (8) v Rugby Petrarca (13)
Referee: Manuel Bottino
ARs: Filippo Russo & Alex Frasson
TMO: Giuseppe Vivarini
France: Top 14 – round 24
Union Bordeaux-Bègles v Castres Olympique
Referee: Thomas Charabas
ARs: Julien Caulier & Frederic Chazal
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
ASM Clermont v USA Perpignan
Referee: Kevin Bralley
ARs: Flavien Hourquet & Sylvain Jaymes
TMO: Eric Gauzins
Aviron Bayonnais v RC Vannes
Referee: Benoit Rousselet
ARs: Remi Aiguebonne & Ghyslain Elias
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
Section Paloise v RC Toulon
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
ARs: Thomas Chereque & Laurent Millotte
TMO: Patrick Dellac
Stade Français Paris v LOU Rugby
Referee: Luc Ramos
ARs: Nicolas Bridoux & Anthony Lac
TMO: Julien Castaignede
Stade Toulousain v Racing 92
Referee: Evan Urruzmendi
ARs: Richard Duhau & Benjamin Hernandez
TMO: Cedric Marchat
Stade Rochelais v Montpellier Hérault Rugby
Referee: Pierre Brousset
ARs: Stephane Coulon & Thierry Mallet
TMO: Jean Luc Rebollal
France: ProD2 – round 30
AS Béziers Hérault v CA Brive
Referee: Ludovic Carrillo
ARs: Hugo Dutreuilh & Frederic Masse
TMO: Mourad Zitouni
Biarritz Olympique PB v Colomiers Rugby
Referee: Herve Lasausa
ARs: Aurelien Laloo & Adrien Marbot
TMO: Jonathan Dufort
FC Grenoble Rugby v USON Nevers
Referee: Aurelie Groizeleau
ARs: Damien Dauvissat & Benoit Lapassade
TMO: Bruno Bessot
Oyonnax Rugby v Provence Rugby
Referee: Vivien Praderie
ARs: Benjamin Beuriot & Sylvain Brayelle
TMO: Patrick Pechambert
Stade Aurillacois v US Montalbanaise
Referee: Vincent Blasco Baque
ARs: Benoit Caballero & Cyrille Le Gall
TMO: Akim Hadj Bachir
Stade Niçois Rugby v US Dax
Referee: David Beun
ARs: Cyrille Boulay & Christophe Bultet
TMO: Laurent Sclafer
SU Agen v Stade Montois Rugby
Referee: Jeremy Rozier
ARs: Christian Coussan & Mathieu Noirot
TMO: Jean Lespes
Valence Romans v Soyaux-Angoulême XV
Referee: Jonathan Gasnier
ARs: Mourad Gharbi Tarchouna & Thibault Santamaria
TMO: Christophe Berdos
South Africa: SA Cup semi-finals
Airlink Pumas v Sanlam Boland Kavaliers
Referee: Sean Muller
ARs: Paul Mente & TBC
Suzuki Griquas v Toyota Cheetahs
Referee: Dylen November
ARs: Daniel Canhenga & TBC
Jakarta 10s (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Referees: Stephen Barber, Azizan, Doug Danapal, Stefan Berder, Stephane Petitgirard, Muiz, Rushaidi, Darroch Chua, Fikri Al Azhar, Laurent Cinot, Hambali, Buldan, Deden, Arif, Satria, Angga, Ridwan, Atla, Labib, Edwin, Kamil
Super Rugby Americas
Tarucas v Dogos
Referee: Tomas Bertazza
ARs: Juan Pablo Chumbita & Juan Lopez
TMO: Álvaro Del Barco
Yacare XV v Cobras Brasil Rugby
Referee: Francisco González
ARs: Federico Solari & Sergio Alvarenga
TMO: Victor Silvero
Pampas v Selknam
Referee: Pablo Deluca
ARs: Mauro Rossi & Juan Maio
TMO: Marcelo Pilara
