Final round of the Rugby World Cup pool matches this weekend with still a fair few placings to be decided. While seven of the eight quarter finalists are known, it’s not clear who will finish top or second in most of the pools. And that makes a difference to the QF line ups next weekend. There’s another round of The Rugby Championship (Karl Dickson and Paul Williams referee), the PNC (Takehito Namekawa & Craig Evans in charge) and it’s the final of the SudeAmerica championship which acts as a men’s world cup qualification decider. Jeremy Rozier from France heads to Montevideo for that one. Uruguay have a 28-16 lead from the first leg, in a match that provides a direct ticket to Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia. The loser will play the last team in the Pacific Nations Cup for a final chance to qualify.
In New Zealand, Ben O’Keeffe (bottom left) becomes the first Kiwi referee to reach 250 first class appointments. Another first is that Maggie Cogger-Orr (top left) becomes the first NZ Female ref to 100 first class appointments on Sunday in what will be her 6th RWC test as Italy play Brazil. Congrats to fellow Kiwi, Erin Doherty who makes her debut at Heartland level, the 5th female ref at this level. An Aussie joins the party in NZ as Jordan Way kicks off this weekend’s NPC round on Thursday night.
In Europe, Hugo Dutreuilh (bottom right) from the Loire makes his ProD2 debut in the second round match in Grenoble as they host Stade Aurillacois. The Top 14 is back in action – see their orange card news here. There’s some PWR Cup action in England as well as some pre-season Prem friendlies. Finally in South Africa, it’s the last round of the regular Currie Cup.
Cox hit 50
This weekend, the Japan v Spain match will see Sara Cox MBE becomes the first female to referee 50 tests and the 16th referee overall. Cox made her test debut in July 2014, and is the fourth English official to reach the half century after Chris White, Wayne Barnes and Luke Pearce.
She has refereed 14 national teams in her 49 tests to date with France the country she has refereed the most with 17 occasions. France v Italy is the match she has refereed more than any other with seven occasions. Congratulations
Enjoy your weekend – I’ll be in Brighton if anyone’s going there too!
Keith
Rugby World Cup 2025 – Round 3
Canada v Scotland (in Exeter) – Pool B
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SA)
ARs: Ella Goldsmith (Aus) & Maria Heitor (Por)
TMO: Rachel Horton (Aus)
FPRO: Leo Colgan (Ire)
USA v Samoa (in York) – Pool A
Referee: Natarsha Ganley (NZ)
ARs: Holly Wood (Eng) & Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wal)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
Wales v Fiji (in Exeter) – Pool B
Referee: Kat Roche (USA)
ARs: Lauren Jenner (Ita) & Jess Ling (Aus)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Sco)
FPRO: Leo Colgan (Ire)
England v Australia (in Brighton) – Pool A
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (Fra)
ARs: Precious Pazani (Zim) & Amelia Luciano (USA)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
Japan v Spain (in York) – Pool C
Referee: Sara Cox (Eng)
ARs: Holly Wood (Eng) & Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wal)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
Italy v Brazil (in Northampton) – Pool D
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZ)
ARs: Ella Goldsmith (Aus) & Maria Heitor (Por)
TMO: Andrew McMeneny (Sco)
FPRO: Leo Colgan (Ire)
New Zealand v Ireland (in Brighton) – Pool C
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Sco)
ARs: Precious Pazani (Zim) & Amelia Luciano (USA)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
France v South Africa (in Northampton) – Pool D
Referee: Clara Munarini (Ita)
ARs: Lauren Jenner (Ita) & Jess Ling (Aus)
TMO: Rachel Horton (Aus)
FPRO: Leo Colgan (Ire)
The Rugby Championship – round 3
Australia v Argentina (in Townsville, Queensland)
Referee: Paul Williams (NZ)
ARs: Christophe Ridley (Eng) & Sam Grove-White (Sco)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
FPRO: Glenn Newman (NZ)
New Zealand v South Africa (in Auckland)
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Jordan Way (Aus)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Aus)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
Sudaméricano 2025 final
Uruguay v Chile (in Montevideo)
Referee: Jérémy Rozier (Fra)
ARs: Tomás Bertazza (Arg) & Federico Longobardi (Arg)
TMO: Lucas Galan (Arg)
Pacific Nations Cup – round 3
Samoa v Fiji
Referee: Takehito Namekawa
ARs: Angus Mabey & Katsuki Furuse
TMO: Richard Kelly
USA v Japan
Referee: Craig Evans
ARs: Damian Schneider & Robin Kaluzniak
TMO: Tual Trainini
New Zealand: Bunnings NPC – round 6
Counties Manukau v North Harbour
Referee: Jordan Way (Aus)
ARs: Liam Sargent & Brandon Roberts
TMO: John Wright
Otago v Northland
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
ARs: Caleb Neilson & Erin Doherty
TMO: Rob Wells
Manawatu v Waikato
Referee: Warwick Lahmert
ARs: Matty McEwen & Sam Couper
TMO: Carl Baker
Hawke’s Bay v Wellington
Referee: Fraser Hannon
ARs: Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri & Dan Waenga
TMO: Jono Bredin
Southland v Canterbury
Referee: James Doleman
ARs: Sam Nicholson & Taylor Swan
TMO: Cassie Watt
Taranaki v Bay of Plenty
Referee: Stu Curran
ARs: Warwick Lahmert & Will Johnston
TMO: Cam Stone
Tasman v Auckland
Referee: Jackson Henshaw
ARs: Damon Smith & Dave Woodhouse
TMO: Reece Weir
NZ: Bunnings Heartlands Championship – round 4
Poverty Bay v Buller
Referee: Stu Catley
ARs: Ben Holt & Royce Maynard
Mid Canterbury v East Coast
Referee: Caleb Neilson
ARs: Simon Bennett & Geoff Barr
King Country v Horowhenua Kapiti
Referee: Tim Oliff
ARs: TBC
North Otago v Thames Valley
Referee: Erin Doherty
ARs: TBC
South Canterbury v Whanganui
Referee: Dan Moore
ARs: TBC
West Coast v Wairarapa Bush
Referee: Ben Alexander
ARs: Chris O’Malley & Colin van der Geest
NZ: Farah Palmer Cup – round 5
Premiership
Hawke’s Bay v Auckland
Referee: Tiana Anderson
ARs: Andy Clark & TBC
Bay of Plenty v Waikato
Referee: Ben Woolerton
ARs: TBC
Manawatu v Counties Manukau
Referee: Will Johnston
ARs: Matt Booth & James Wight
Championship
Northland v Wellington
Referee: Ben Brownlie
ARs: John Hammond & John Filia
Otago v Taranaki
Referee: Georgia Mason
ARs: Jackson Brierly & Neave Rowland
Tasman v North Harbour
Referee: Taneika Uerata
ARs: Hayley Hutana & Dave Woodhouse
France: Top 14 – round 1
Stade Français Paris v US Montauban
Referee: Evan Urruzmendi
ARs: Stephane Boyer & Julien Caulier
TMO: Mourad Zitouni
USA Perpignan v Aviron Bayonnais
Referee: Luc Ramos
ARs: Benoit Albert Bonnafous & Mathieu Noirot
TMO: Julien Castaignede
Castres Olympique v Section Paloise
Referee: Jonathan Gasnier
ARs: Flavien Hourquet & Anthony Lac
TMO: Jean Luc Rebollal
LOU Rugby v Racing 92
Referee: Adrien Marbot
ARs: Remi Aiguebonne & Laurent Millotte
TMO: Herve Lasausa
Montpellier Hérault Rugby v RC Toulon
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
ARs: David Beun & Stephane Coulon
TMO: Cyril Lafon
Union Bordeaux-Bègles v Stade Rochelais
Referee: Kevin Bralley
ARs: Cyrille Boulay & Thomas Charabas
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
ASM Clermont v Stade Toulousain
Referee: Benoit Rousselet
ARs: Thomas Chereque & Damien Dauvissat
TMO: Cedric Marchat
France: ProD2 – Round 2
Colomiers Rugby v Biarritz Olympique PB
Referee: Jonathan Dufort
ARs: Vincent Chouquet & Ludovic Sacarot
TMO: Jean Lespes
US Carcassonnaise v Oyonnax Rugby
Referee: Benjamin Hernandez
ARs: Florian Capelle & Sylvain Jaymes
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
AS Béziers Hérault v USON Nevers
Referee: Pierre Bru
ARs: Francois Bouzac & Cedric Hueso
TMO: Patrick Dellac
FC Grenoble Rugby v Stade Aurillacois
Referee: Hugo Dutreuilh
ARs: Ludovic Carrillo & Thierry Mallet
TMO: Cedric Marchat
Provence Rugby v Valence Romans
Referee: Stephane Coulon
ARs: Christophe Bultet & Regis Guatelli
TMO: Patrick Pechambert
SU Agen v Stade Montois Rugby
Referee: Vincent Blasco Baque
ARs: Julien Camus & Yannick Vals
TMO: Christophe Berdos
US Dax v CA Brive
Referee: Vivien Praderie
ARs: Sylvain Brayelle & Benoit Caballero
TMO: Laurent Sclafer
RC Vannes v Soyaux-Angoulême XV
Referee: Pierre Baptiste Nuchy
ARs: Stephane Crapoix & Clement Jossier
TMO: Akim Hadj Bachir
Scotland: Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership
GHA v Kelso
Referee: David Young
ARs: Charles Samson & Willie Anderson
Hawick v Selkirk
Referee: Chelsea Gillespie
ARs: Allan Parry & Brian McGuff
Watsonians v Glasgow Hawks
Referee: Ruairidh Campbell
ARs: Gordon Galashan & Ted Coutts
Melrose Rugby v Ayr
Referee: Calum Wehmeyer
ARs: Darren Fisher & Bob Nevins
Currie Chieftains v Heriot’s Rugby Men
Referee: Samuel O’Neil
ARs: Bryan Johnston & Digby Thomas
South Africa: Currie Cup
Hollywoodbets Sharks XV v Airlink Pumas
Referee: Griffin Colby
DHL Western Province v Sanlam Boland Kavaliers
Referee: Morne Ferreira
Fidelity ADT Lions v Suzuki Griquas
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Vodacom Bulls v Toyota Cheetahs
Referee: Hanru van Rooyen
England: PWR CUP
Loughborough Lightning v Saracens
Referee: Henry Pearson
ARs: Jenny Burrows & Kieron Henry
Sale Sharks Women v Leicester women
Referee: Mike Hudson
ARs: Jack Sutton & Jenny burrows
Harlequins Women v Ealing Women
Referee: Ben Wood
ARs: James Pidding & Mike Woods
Gloucester-Hartpury v Exeter Women
Referee: Charlie Gather
ARs: Iain Kiy & Kevin Williams
England: Pre-season Friendlies
Sale Sharks v Connacht
Referee: Hamish Smales
ARs: Henry Pearson & Jamie Leahy
Gloucester v Munster
Referee: Dan Jones
ARs: Andy Wiley & Calum Howard
Bedford v Northampton
Referee: Craig Maxwell-keys
ARs: Iain Kiy & Neil Chivers
Bath v Glasgow
Referee: Adam Leal
ARs: Andrew Jackson & Josh Meredith
Quins v Benetton
Referee: Joe James
ARs: Veryan Boscawen & Wike Woods
Leicester Tigers v Nottingham
Referee: Richard Gordon
ARs: Ryan Collier & Wayne Falla