The 2025 Rugby World Cup kicks off with Aimee Barrett-Theron (pictured top left) refereeing the opening fixture on Friday night. The hosts, England, play the USA Eagles Women up in Sunderland, kicking off six weeks of elite women’s rugby. Ella Goldsmith (bottom right) makes her RWC debut in York as the Black Ferns play Spain.
In the men’s game, Cape Town and Buenos Aires host this weekend’s second round matches in the Rugby Championship. James Doleman and Nic Berry referee those two. And, we have the start of the Pacific Nations Cup kicking off in Canada, Tonga and Fiji. Luke Pearce (top right) has the Canadians, with Angus Gardner and Karl Dickson on duty in the other two matches.
We also have the 2025 International Defence Competition match officials for you, as military representatives from around the globe, all gather in the south of England for a few weeks! The UK team v Ireland could be tasty! There’s another full round of New Zealand rugby for you, plus Currie Cup (Dylan November (bottom left) is refereeing the Cheetahs v Lions match) and Women’s Prem in SA and the interprovincial women’s matches in Ireland. Scotland’s men’s leagues are back this week (didn’t get the women’s appts last week, but will from now on – they don’t play this weekend with Scotland’s women in action in Manchester!)
Enjoy the World Cup and good luck to all MOs involved.
Keith
Women’s Rugby World Cup – Round 1
England v USA (in Sunderland)
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SA)
ARs: Natarsha Ganley (NZ) & Maria Heitor (Por)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ire)
FPRO: Rachel Horton (Aus)
Australia v Samoa (in Manchester)
Referee: Lauren Jenner (Ita)
ARs: Precious Pazani (Zim) & Amelia Luciano (USA)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
FPRO: Andrew McMenemy (Sco)
Scotland v Wales (in Manchester)
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZ)
ARs: Holly Wood (Eng) & Jess Ling (Aus)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
FPRO: Rachel Horton (Aus)
Canada v Fiji (in York)
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (Fra)
ARs: Kat Roche (USA) & Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wal)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA)
FPRO: Andrew McMenemy (Sco)
France v Italy (in Exeter)
Referee: Sara Cox (Eng)
ARs: Natarsha Ganley (NZ) & Maria Heitor (Por)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ire)
FPRO: Rachel Horton (Aus)
Ireland v Japan (in Northampton)
Referee: Clara Munarini (Ita)
ARs: Precious Pazani (Zim) & Amelia Luciano (USA)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
FPRO: Andrew McMenemy (Sco)
South Africa v Brazil (in Northampton)
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Sco)
ARs: Holly Wood (Eng) & Jess Ling (Aus)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
FPRO: Rachel Horton (Aus)
New Zealand v Spain (in York)
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (Aus)
ARs: Kat Roche (USA) & Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wal)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA)
FPRO: Andrew McMenemy (Sco)
The Rugby Championship – Round 2
South Africa v Australia (Cape Town)
Referee: James Doleman (NZ)
ARs: Andrew Brace (Ire) & Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZ)
FPRO: Tual Trainini (Fra)
Argentina v New Zealand (Buenos Aires)
Referee: Nic Berry (Aus)
ARs: Pierre Brousset (Fra) & Morné Ferreira (SA)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
FPRO: Damon Murphy (Aus)
Pacific Nations Cup – round 1
Canada v USA (in Alberta)
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
ARs: Adam Leal (Eng) & Anthony Woodthorpe (Eng)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
Tonga v Samoa (in Nuku’alofa)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Aus)
ARs: Jordan Way (Aus) & Michael Winter (NZ)
TMO: James Leckie (Aus)
Fiji v Tonga (in Suva – 30 Aug)
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
ARs: Takehito Namekawa (Jpn) & Katsuki Furuse (Jpn)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Aus)
International Defence Rugby Competition 2025 – Round 2
Zambia v Tonga
Referee: Kevin Lewis (UKAF/RN)
ARs: Paudie Sheehan (Irish Defence Force/Army) & Rob Hitch (UKAF/Army)
UK v Ireland
Referee: Mitchell Egan (Australia Defence Force/Air Force)
ARs: Sebastian Roger (French Navy) & Maamaloa Kuluka (Tongian Defence Force)
France v Fiji
Referee: Rebecca Piddlesden (UKAF/RAF)
ARs: Paudie Sheehan (Irish Defence Force/Army) & Mike Gray (UKAF/RAF)
Aus v LooseHeadz
Referee: David Vosalevu (Fijian Defence Force)
ARs: Sebastian Roger (French Navy) & Maamaloa Kuluka (Tongian Defence Force)
Ireland: Women’s Interprovincial Championship – round 3
Connacht v Leinster
Referee: John Lillis
Ulster v Munster
Referee: Dermot Blake
South Africa: Carling Currie Cup Premier Division
Airlink Pumas v Sanlam Boland Kavaliers
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
ARs: Christopher Allison & Hernus Coetzee
TMO: AJ Jacobs
Hollywoodbets Sharks XV v DHL Western Province
Referee: Robbie Jenkinson
ARs: Hanru v Rooyen & Caleb Hibbert
TMO: Egon Seconds
Toyota Cheetahs v Fidelity ADT Lions
Referee: Dylen November
ARs: Paul Mente & Daniel Canhenga
TMO: Ben Crouse
Vodacom Bulls v Suzuki Griquas
Referee: AJ Jacobs
ARs: Christopher Allison & Hernus Coetzee
TMO: Cwengile Jadezweni
South Africa: Women’s First Division – Semi-finals
SWD Eagirls v Leopards Women
Referee: Stiaan Marx
Pumas Women v Griquas Women
Referee: Aneka Smith
Scotland: Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership 2025-26
Watsonians v Kelso
Referee: David Young
ARs: Michael Milner & Gordon Galashan
Ayr v Glasgow Hawks
Referee: Samuel O’Neil
ARs: Euan Maguire & Allan Parry
Currie Chieftains v Selkirk
Referee: Calum Wehmeyer
ARs: Fergus Hollins & Bryan Johnston
Hawick v GHA
Referee: Steven Turnbull
ARs: Calum Worsley & Brian McGuff
Melrose Rugby v Heriot’s Rugby Men
Referee: Chelsea Gillespie
ARs: Willie Anderson & Bob Nevins
New Zealand: Bunnings NPC – round 4
Bay of Plenty v Southland
Referee: Todd Petrie
ARs: Nick Hogan & Tiana Anderson
TMO: Estelle Whaiapu
Hawke’s Bay v Canterbury
Referee: Marcus Playle
ARs: Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri & Jamie Mather
TMO: Jono Bredin
Taranaki v Waikato
Referee: Angus Mabey
ARs: Will Johnston & Rohan Gladding
TMO: Cam Stone
North Harbour v Tasman
Referee: Ben Woolerton
ARs: Scott McKenzie & Caleb Greaves
TMO: Jonathan Paterson
Auckland v Northland
Referee: Takehito Namekawa
ARs: Todd Petrie & Tomas Roche
TMO: Rob Harman
Otago v Counties Manukau
Referee: Jackson Henshaw
ARs: Caleb Neilson & Erin Doherty
TMO: Rodger Hewitt
Manawatu v Wellington
Referee: Paul Williams
ARs: Stu Curran & Matty McEwen
TMO: Carl Baker
New Zealand: Bunnings Heartland Championship – round 2
Buller v Whanganui
Referee: Dan Moore
ARs: Dave Woodhouse & Tony Alexander
East Coast v West Coast
Referee: Stu Catley
ARs: TBC
Mid Canterbury v Horowhenua Kapiti
Referee: Will Day
ARs: Simon Bennett & Jeremy Robinson
King Country v Poverty Bay
Referee: Tim Oliff
ARs: Matt Astle & Mark Anderson
North Otago v Wairarapa Bush
Referee: Calen Neilson
ARs: Jared Fox & TBC
South Canterbury v Thames Valley
Referee: Fraser Hannon
ARs: Josh Rooney & Toby Scannell
New Zealand: Farah Palmer Cup
Premiership round 3
Canterbury v Counties Manukau
Referee: Sam Adam
ARs: Karl Hancox & Cameron Wootton
Auckland v Bay of Plenty
Referee: Erin Doherty
ARs: Dion A’ho & Harrison Wills
Manawatu v Hawke’s Bay
Referee: Warwick Lahmert
ARs: Sam Couper & James Wight
Championship – round 3
Taranaki v Tasman
Referee: Ben Brownlie
ARs: Rohan Gladding & Ross Hanan
North Harbour v Wellington
Referee: Liam Sargent
ARs: Ryan Nixon & Jack Tomkins
Otago v Northland
Referee: Taneika Uerata
ARs: Georgia Mason & Amelia O’Connell
England: PWR Cup
Pool A
Ealing Trailfinders Ladies v Gloucester-Hartpury Ladies
Referee: Hamish Grant
ARs: Jenny Burrows & Jonathan Healy
Harlequins Ladies v Exeter Ladies
Referee: Rebecca Piddleston
ARs: Jamie Parr & Gareth Holsgrove
Pool B
Loughborough Lightning v Sale Sharks Women
Referee: Henry Pearson
ARs: Mike Lamb & James Pidding
Leicester Tigers Women v Bristol Bears Ladies
Referee: Emily Hope
ARs: Neil Chivers & Jamie Leahy
I would like to point out that Fiji vs Tonga is taking place on the 30th of August and not this weekend.
Thanks Rhys – Seems a typo in the date on WR list. Will carry it through to next weeks list to! 😉
There is no nz referee appointments for npc
Looks like some web gremlins got involved yesterday! I did them, but they didnt post (or I didnt update the draft when they came in!)! Updated now – sorry!
Where’s the refs for the N P C in N Z for this weekend 21/ 8/25 to 24/8/25
Looks like some web gremlins got involved yesterday! I did them, but they didnt post (or I didnt update the draft when they came in!)! Updated now – sorry!