This weekend sees the finals of the World u20s Championships in Italy. New Zealand play South Africa in the grand finale, and Ben Breakspear (pictured top left) from Wales has been appointed to referee the fixture. It’s his second u20s champs having been in South Africa in 2024. Congrats Ben!
On the internationals front, Ben O’Keeffe (top right) referees the opening Lions Test in Brisbane as the Wallabies prepare to kick things off. It’s his second Lions test after refereeing in the South Africa series in 2021. The midweek match against the First Nations & Pasifika XV has Nika Amashukeli on the whistle. There’s a host men’s internationals around the globe, with Matthew Carley (bottom left) overseeing South Africa’s match with Georgia. Be interesting to see what ‘innovations’ they come up with this weekend.
There’s a few women’s internationals as the RWC warm up window builds and in South Wales, there’s the final day of the u20s Women’s Series. Kristine Lovatt (bottom right) from Canada will oversee the match in Sao Paolo where Brazil play the Netherlands. Jess Kavanagh will referee what looks like a cracking final match of the women’s u20s series as France play England this evening (Thursday, 6pmBST kick off).
As well as that, we have another round of age grade Rugby Europe 7s and South Africa’s domestic action continues too.
Enjoy your rugby this weekend
Keith
Lions Tour – First test
Australia v The B&I Lions (Brisbane)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Andrea Piardi (Ita)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZ)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
Tues 22 July 2025
First Nations & Pasifika XV v B&I Lions (Melbourne)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ) & Andrea Piardi (Ita)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZ)
World u20s Championships – finals
Final: New Zealand v South Africa (Rovigo, Italy)
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wal)
ARs: Jeremy Rozier (Fra) & Katsuki Furuse (Jpn)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wal)
FPRO: Leo Colgan (Ire)
3v4: France v Argentina (Calvisano, Italy)
Referee: Lex Weiner (USA)
ARs: Peter Martin (Ire) & Filippo Russo (Ita)
TMO: Dan Jones (Eng)
FPRO: Graham Cooper (Aus)
5v6: Australia v England (Rovigo, Italy)
Referee: Morgan White (HKC)
ARs: Franco Rosella (Ita) & Alberto Favaro (Ita)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA)
FPRO: Aled Griffiths (Wal)
7v8 Italy v Wales (Rovigo, Italy)
Referee: Marcus Playle (NZ)
ARs: Katsuki Furuse (Jpn) & Jeremy Rozier (Fra)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ire)
FPRO: Quinton Immelman (SA)
9v10 Georgia v Scotland (Calvisano, Italy)
Referee: Griffin Colby (SA)
ARs: Peter Martin (Ire) & Alex Frasson (Ita)
TMO: Graham Cooper (Aus)
FPRO: Dan Jones (Eng)
11v12: Spain v Ireland (Calvisano, Italy)
Referee: Tomas Bertazza (Arg)
ARs: Filippo Russo (Ita) & Luca Bisetto (Ita)
TMO: Graham Cooper (Aus)
FPRO: Dan Jones (Eng)
Women’s internationals
Japan v Spain (in Kitakyushu)
Referee: Lauren Jenner (Ita)
ARs: Precious Pazani (Zim) & Hibiki Ikeda (Jpn)
USA v Fiji (in Washington DC)
Referee: Sara Cox (Eng)
ARs: Kat Roche (USA) & Amelia Luciano (USA)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Sco)
FPRO: Austin Reed (USA)
Brazil v Netherlands (in São Paulo)
Referee: Kristine Lovatt (Can)
ARs: Emma Gallagher (Can) & TBC
TMO: Marcelo Pilara (Arg)
Six Nations Women’s Summer Series (u20s)
Scotland v Ireland
Referee: Emily Hope (Eng)
ARs: Alice Torra (Ita) & Josh Sealey (Wal)
TMO: Jenny Davies (Wal)
Italy v Wales
Referee: Chloe Pelle (Fra)
ARs: Siobhan Daly (Ire) & Max Clements (Wal)
TMO: Jenny Davies (Wal)
France v England
Referee: Jess Kavanagh (Wal)
ARs: Mary Pringle (Sco) & Jack Davies (Wal)
TMO: Jenny Davies (Wal)
Men’s internationals
Canada v Spain (Edmonton)
Referee: Angus Mabey (NZ)
ARs: Gonzalo DeAchaval (Arg) & Luke Rogan (USA)
TMO: Mike Kelly (USA)
Samoa v Scotland (in Auckland)
Referee: Jordan Way (Aus)
ARs: Nic Berry (Aus) & Tevita Rokovereni (Fij)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
New Zealand v France (Hamilton)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Aus)
ARs: Damian Schneider (Arg) & Takehito Namekawa (Jpn)
TMO: Damon Murphy (Aus)
FPRO: Brett Cronan (Aus)
South Africa v Georgia (Nelspruit)
Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng)
ARs: Hollie Davidson (Sco) & Adam Leal (Eng)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (Eng)
FPRO: Tual Trainini (Fra)
Argentina v Uruguay (Salta)
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
ARs: Craig Evans (Wal) & Federico Vedovelli (Ita)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
Argentina XV v Romania (Tucaman)
Referee: Francisco Gonzales (Uru)
ARs: Caua Ricardo (Bra) & Frank Mendez (Chi)
USA v England (Washington DC)
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Sco)
ARs: Morné Ferreira (SA) & Robin Kaluzniak (Can)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
Rugby Europe – u18s 7s (Budapest, Hungary)
Girls Trophy – Referees: Anna Hauplik (Aut), Anne Dobers (Ger), Irina Baikul (Ukr), Marit Bras (Ned)
Boys Trophy – Referees: Mirco Sergi (Ita), Toni Ruscic (Cro), Alberto Diaz (Spa), Airdan Bowen (Den), Geoffrey Serralbo (Bel) & Hristo Nenkiv (Bul)
South Africa: Carling Currie Cup First Division – Semi-finals
Novavit Griffons v Eastern Province
Referee: Hanru van Rooyen
ARs: Stephan Geldenhuys & Giana Viljoen
Valke v Leopards
Referee: Jonathan Lottering
ARs: Hernus Coetzee & Angie Bezuidenhout
South Africa: Women’s First Division
Griffons Women v Valke Women
Referee: Chante Olivier
Limpopo Blue Bulls Women v Griquas Women
Referee: Richard Bruno
Pumas Women v Leopards Women
Referee: Yohane Halgryn
