It’s quarter finals of the Women’s Rugby World Cup and Sara Cox (pictured top left) will equal Nicky Inwood’s RWC record of 11 appointments in the competition. Another record for the collection but will there be another one to come? Her officiating fate is probably in the hands of her kinfolk. Speaking of record, congrats Ian Tempest who TMOs his 50th test match.
In the men’s Rugby Championship, Nika Amashukeli (top right) steps back on the field for what will be an enthralling encounter as the All Blacks host South Africa again. Christophe Ridley has the other match up in Australia, who play Argentina again.
It’s the semi-finals of both the Pacific Nations Cup (hosted in the US), and in the Currie Cup in South Africa. Damian Schneider, Luc Ramos and Eoghan Cross are in Denver, with Griffin Colby (bottom left) on home soil as the Lions host the Kavaliers.
We have a full round of Scotland’s men’s and women’s premiership, some Prem Cup action in England, Top 14 and ProD2 in France and the usual run of NPC, Heartlands and Farah Palmer Cup in New Zealand. The Netherland’s men’s premier league starts again, and there’s a new competition in Australia as their Super Rugby teams play a round robin comp over the next few weeks. Rueben Keane (bottom right) referees one, Nic Berry the other. Finally, some pre-season friendlies in England and Ireland as teams build up to the new season.
Enjoy your weekend – Exeter for me!
Keith
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 – Quarter Finals
New Zealand v South Africa (in Exeter)
Referee: Sara Cox (Eng)
ARs: Ella Goldsmith (Aus) & Kat Roche (USA)
TMO: Rachel Horton (Aus)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
Canada v Australia (in Bristol)
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Sco)
ARs: Lauren Jenner (Ita) & Holly Wood (Eng)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ire)
FPRO: Andrew McMenemy (Sco)
France v Ireland (in Exeter)
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SA)
ARs: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZ) & Natarsha Ganley (NZ)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
FPRO: Andrew McMenemy (Sco)
England v Scotland (in Bristol)
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (Fra)
ARs: Clara Munarini (Ita) & Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wal)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
The Rugby Championship – round 4
New Zealand v South Africa (in Wellington)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
ARs: Angus Gardner (Aus) & Jordan Way (Aus)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
FPRO: Brett Cronan (Aus)
Australia v Argentina (in Sydney)
Referee: Christophe Ridley (Eng)
ARs: Paul Williams (NZ) & Sam Grove-White (Sco)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZ)
FPRO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
Pacific Nations Cup – Play offs
5th Place play off:
Samoa v USA (in Denver)
Referee: Damian Schneider (Arg)
ARs: Andrew Brace (Ire) & Craig Evans (Wal)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
FPRO: Tual Trainini (Fra)
Semi finals
Tonga v Japan (in Denver, USA)
Referee: Luc Ramos (Fra)
ARs: Andrew Brace (Ire) & Robin Kaluziak (Can)
TMO: Tual Trainini (Fra)
FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
Fiji v Canada (in Denver, USA)
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ire)
ARs: Craig Evans (Wal) & Lex Weiner (USA)
TMO: Tual Trainini (Fra)
FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
Super Rugby AUS Men’s
Waratahs v Force
Referee: Reuben Keane
ARs: Matt Kellahan & Todd Cummings
Reds v ACT Brumbies
Referee: Nic Berry
ARs: Damon Murphy & Jeremy Markey
Super Rugby Aus U19
Waratahs U19 v Force U19
Referee: Louis Trisley
ARs: Todd Cummings & Hamish Quiggly
Reds U19 v ACT Brumbies U19
Referee: Todd Cummings
ARs: Charlie Marshal & Kirk Astill
England: PWR Cup (Women’s)
Bristol Bears v Lougborough Lightning
Referew: Ben Wood
ARs: Rebecca Piddlesden &Kevin Williams
Sale Sharks v Saracens
Ref: Matt Sharpe
ARs: Calum Howard & Kieron Henry
England: Pre-season friendlies
Chinnor v Ealing Trailfinders
Referee: Hamish Grant
ARs: Jack Sutton & Ryan Collier
Cornish Pirates v Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Andy Wigley
ARs: Iain Kiy & Kevin Williams
Ampthill v Worcester Warriors
Referee: Andrew Jackson
ARs: Mike Woods & James Clarke
Cambridge v Ulster
Referee: Henry Pearson
ARs: Veryan Boscawen & Darryl Chapman
Coventry v Caldy
Referee: Jamie Parr
ARs: Hamish Grant & Gregg Dawson
England: Prem Cup (Mens)
Gloucester Rugby v Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Joe James
ARs: Dan Jones & Neal Chivers
Newcastle Red Bulls v Harlequins
Referee: George Selwood
ARs: Mike Hudson & Wayne Fella
TMO: Peter Allan
Sale Sharks v Bristol Bears
Referee: Matthew Carley
ARs: Alex Thomas & Simon Harding
Leicester Tigers v Saracens
Referee: Hamish Smales
ARs: Richard Gordon & Gareth Holsgrove
France: Top 14 – round 2
US Montauban v LOU Rugby
Referee: Pierre Brousset
ARs: Cyrille Boulay & Hugo Dutreuilh
TMO: Jean Lespes
Aviron Bayonnais v Montpellier Hérault Rugby
Referee: Vincent Blasco Baque
ARs: Benoit Albert Bonnafous & Kevin Bralley
TMO: Herve Lasausa
Section Paloise v Stade Français Paris
Referee: Vivien Praderie
ARs: Stephane Boyer & Jonathan Dufort
TMO: Cedric Marchat
Stade Rochelais v ASM Clermont
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
ARs: Julien Caulier & Thomas Chereque
TMO: Jean Luc Rebollal
Stade Toulousain v USA Perpignan
Referee: Benjamin Hernandez
ARs: Stephane Crapoix & Adrien Marbot
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
RC Toulon v Castres Olympique
Referee: Benoit Rousselet
ARs: David Beun & Pierre Baptiste Nuchy
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
Racing 92 v Union Bordeaux-Bègles
Referee: Jeremy Rozier
ARs: Jonathan Gasnier & Flavien Hourquet
TMO: Julien Castaignede
France: ProD2 – round 3
SU Agen v FC Grenoble Rugby
Referee: Pierre Bru
ARs: Ghyslain Elias & Adrien Maset
TMO: Cyril Lafon
Provence Rugby v Biarritz Olympique PB
Referee: Anthony Lac
ARs: Benjamin Beuriot & Pierre Olivier Julien
TMO: Christophe Berdos
CA Brive v Valence Romans
Referee: Damien Dauvissat
ARs: Julien Caulier & Aurelien Laloo
TMO: Mourad Zitouni
Oyonnax Rugby v Colomiers Rugby
Referee: Thomas Charabas
ARs: Francois Bouzac & Richard Duhau
TMO: Patrick Pechambert
Soyaux-Angoulême XV v US Dax
Referee: Mathieu Noirot
ARs: Abdjallil El Khaoulani & Berenice Loubet
TMO: Patrick Dellac
Stade Aurillacois v AS Béziers Hérault
Referee: Ludovic Carrillo
ARs: Stephane Coulon & Thierry Mallet
TMO: Akim Hadj Bachir
USON Nevers v US Carcassonnaise
Referee: Remi Aiguebonne
ARs: Wissam Baamara & Mickael Simon
TMO: Laurent Sclafer
Stade Montois Rugby v RC Vannes
Referee: Evan Urruzmendi
ARs: Benoit Caballero & Benoit Lapassade
TMO: Jean Luc Rebollal
New Zealand: Bunnings NPC – Round 7
Northland v Wellington
Referee: Angus Gardner (Aus)
ARs: Nathan Chestnut & Travis Larsen
TMO: Llew Smart
Waikato v North Harbour
Referee: Angus Mabey
ARs: Michael Winter & Ben Woolerton
TMO: Aaron Paterson
Bay of Plenty v Hawke’s Bay
Referee: James Doleman
ARs: Ryan Waite & Jaco Bouwer
TMO: Estelle Whaiapu
Otago v Taranaki
Referee: Todd Petrie
ARs: Caleb Neilson & Logan Whitty
TMO: Rodger Hewitt
Auckland v Manawatu
Referee: Nick Hogan
ARs: Sam Adam & Ben McLauchlan
TMO: Rob Harman
Canterbury v Tasman (Ranfurly Shield Match)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
ARs: Dan Moore & William Todd
TMO: TBC
Southland v Counties Manukau
Referee: Marcus Playle
ARs: Sam Nicholson & Josh Hamill
TMO: Cassie Watt
NZ: Bunnings Heartland Championship – Round 5
Buller v Thames Valley
Referee: Ben Alexander
ARs: Tony Alexander & Steve Petrie
East Coast v Whanganui
Referee: Stu Catley
ARs: TBC
Horowhenua Kapiti v West Coast
Referee: Sean Curragh
ARs: TBC
King Country v Wairarapa Bush
Referee: Warwick Lahmert
ARs: Matt Astle & Jamie Bell
North Otago v Poverty Bay
Referee: Dan Moore
ARs: TBC
South Canterbury v Mid Canterbury
Referee: Will Todd
ARs: TBC
New Zealand: Farah Palmer Cup
Premiership – round 6
Waikato v Manawatu
Referee: Tiana Anderson
ARs: Jonathan Crosbie & Noah Viliamu
Bay of Plenty v Hawke’s Bay
Referee: Chloe Sampson
ARs: Peter Morgan & Richard Cameron
Auckland v Canterbury
Referee: Erin Doherty
ARs: Adam Palmer & Harrison Wills
Championship – Semi finals
Otago v North Harbour
Referee: Taneika Uerata
ARs: Georgia Mason & Amelia O’Connell
Northland v Wellington
Referee: Liam Sargent
ARs: Nathan Chestnut & John Hammond
Ireland: Men’s Pre Season friendlies
Munster v Bath
Referee: Robbie Jenkinson
ARs: Padraic Reidy & Jack MacNeice Jack
Ulster v Edinburgh
Referee: Andrew Cole
ARs: Keane Davison & Stuart Gaffikin
Leinster v Cardiff
Referee: Peter Martin
ARs: Max Weston & Sam Holt
South Africa: Carling Currie Cup
Premier Division Semi-finals
Fidelity ADT Lions v Sanlam Boland Kavaliers
Referee: Griffin Colby
ARs: Hanru van Rooyen & Sean Muller
TMO: Egon Seconds
Suzuki Griquas v Toyota Cheetahs
Referee: Stephen Geldenhuys
ARs: Cwengile Jadezweni & AJ Jacobs
TMO: Marius Jonker
Scotland: Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership
Cartha Queens Park WRFC v Hillhead Jordanhill WRFC
Referee: Kyle McAlinden
ARs: Davie Jamieson & Lee Murru
Stirling County WRFC v Heriots Rugby Women
Referee: MC Dixon
ARs: Georgina Adams & Walter Gaffney
Biggar WRFC v Watsonians WRFC
Referee: Sophie Tougher-Mitchell
ARs: George Downie & Graham Hogg
Garioch WRFC v Corstorphine Cougars WRFC
Referee: Darren Fisher
ARs: Jess Butler & Andrew Laing
Scotland: Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership
Heriot’s Rugby Men v Watsonians
Referee: David Young
ARs: Scott McCall & Digby Thomas
Kelso v Melrose Rugby
Referee: Chelsea Gillespie
ARs: Charles Samson & Gordon Galashan
Ayr v Currie Chieftains
Referee: Ciaran Stark
ARs: Iain Morrison & Allan Parry
Selkirk v GHA
Referee: Daniel Evans
ARs: David Changleng & Dave McKervail
Glasgow Hawks v Hawick
Referee: Rob McDowell
ARs: Beatriz Casares-Fernandez & Willie Anderson
Netherlands: Men’s Ereklasse
Rotterdamse RC v Castricum RC
Referee: Bram Oudman
Hoek van Holland v RC DIOK
Referee: Dan O’Connell
AAC v RC ‘t Gooi
Referee: Conrad Riepe
RFC Haarlem v RC Eemland
Referee: Koen Maaijen
Breda RC v RC The Dukes
Referee: Gert Visser
RFC Oisterwijk Oysters v Haagsche RC
Referee: Lars Looten
