As we reported earlier this week, the Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-finals will be refereed by Maggie Cogger-Orr (pictured top left) and Aimee Barrett Theron. ABT referees her 49th test as the Black Ferns play Canada.
In the USA, it’s the final of the Pacific Nations Cup. Damian Schneider from Argentina (top right) referees that one as Fiji take on Japan. There’s also a Rugby World Cup qualifier first leg (also in the US) as Chile head north to play Samoa who have been in town for the PNC. Andrew Brace will referee that with Luke Pearce overseeing the second leg next weekend.
Domestically, it’s the Farah Palmer Cup Championship Final in New Zealand. Otago host Northland with Sam Adam in charge. Former player Hayley Hutana (bottom right) makes her FPC debut in the FPC Premiership – she’s part of the NZ referee scholarship programme so great to see that’s working so well. In Australia, the Super Rugby AUS continues in men’s and u19s comps.
Good luck to Christopher Allison (bottom left) who referees the Currie Cup final at Ellis Park, Jo’burg. They’re always big events! We’ve also got 7s action in China and Thailand with big groups of match officials involved. Plus, we have Prem Cup, PWR Cup, English pre-season friendlies, ProD2 and Top 14 in France and Scotland’s men’s and women’s premierships. Interestingly in France, some of the men’s matches have been moved so fans can tune into the French women’s World cup semi! Not sure that would have happened before!
Enjoy the weekend. If you’ll be in Bristol let me know. Be nice to say hi if we can.
Keith
Rugby World Cup 2025 – Semi-finals
New Zealand v Canada
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SA)
AR: Aurélie Groizeleau (Fra) & Ella Goldsmith (Aus)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
France v England
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZ)
ARs: Clara Munarini (Ita) & Kat Roche (USA)
TMO: Rachel Horton (Aus)
FPRO: Andrew McMenemy (Sco)
Pacific Nations Cup 2025 – Final
Third place play-off: Tonga v Canada (in Salt Lake City, Utah)
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ire)
ARs: Luke Rogan (USA) & Lex Weiner (USA)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
Final: Japan v Fiji (in Salt Lake City, Utah)
Referee: Damian Schneider (Arg)
ARs: Luke Pearce (Eng) & Robin Kaluzniak (Can)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
FPRO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
RWC Qualifier – First Leg
Samoa v Chile (in Salt Lake City, Utah)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ire)
ARs: Luke Pearce (Eng) & Lex Weiner (USA)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
FPRO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
Asia Rugby Sevens Series – Leg 1, Hangzhou, China
Referees: Aymen Jriji (Saudi Arabia), Craig Chan (HKC), Qu Shenggang (Cha), Dechdanai “Top” Wongyuen (Thailand), Sunny Lee Chui Yan (HKC), Ibuki Tetsuka (Jpn), Hibiki Ikeda (Jpn), Christabelle Lim (Sin), Wei Ming Lin “Sonny” (Chinese Taipei) Francesco Cammisa (HKC) & Tetsuya Hirakawa (Jpn).
Mgt team: Dilroy Fernando, Referee Manager, Asia Rugby, Taku Otsuki, Performance Reviewer (Jpn), Matt Rodden, Performance Reviewer (HKC), Just Wang, TMO (Sin)
Chiang Mai International 7s
Referees: Rod Colson (HKC), Mike Gilbert (NZ), Stefan Berder (Thai), Quentin Didier (FSR), John Stitt (Eng), Paul Cooke (UDRFC), Martin Christensen (HKC), Ian Coltman (Eng), Daniel Cao (HKC), Eric Chu (HKC), Michelle Tong (HKC), Trevor Sharpe (Eng), Alan Hawkes (Eng)
South Africa: Carling Currie Cup Final
Fidelity ADT Lions v Suzuki Griquas (in Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
Referee: Christopher Allison
ARs: Cwengile Jadezweni& Stephan Geldenhuys
TMO: Egon Seconds
England: Prem Cup
Gloucester Rugby v Bristol Bears (Pool A)
Referee: Adam Leal
ARs: Joe James & Jamie Leahy
Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs (Pool A)
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
ARs: Hamish Smales & John Meredith
TMO: Dan Jones
Saracens v Northampton Saints (Pool B)
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
ARs: Andrew Jackson & Greg Macdonald
Harlequins v Leicester Tigers (Pool A)
Referee: Harry Walbaum
ARs: Hamish Grant & Jonathan Healy
England: PWR Cup
Exeter Ladies v Ealing Trailfinders Ladies (Pool A)
Referee: Charlie Gayther
ARs: Matt Sharpe & Jenny Burrows
Gloucester-Hartpury Ladies v Harlequins Ladies (Pool A)
Referee: Mike Hudson
ARs: Simon Adams & Simon Park
Bristol Bears Ladies v Sale Sharks Women (Pool B)
Referee: Holly Wood
ARs: Dan Jones & Darryl Chapman
Saracens Ladies v Leicester Tigers Women (Pool B)
Referee: Michael Lamb
ARs: James Clarke & Mike Woods
England: Pre-season friendlies
Caldy v Durham University
Referee: Andrew Jackson
ARs: Jack Moorhouse & Kieron Henry
Nottingham Rugby v London Scottish
Referee: Benjamin Wood
ARs: Gregg Dawson & Kieron Henry
Worcester Warriors v Bath Rugby
Referee: Alex Thomas
ARs: Calum Howard & Jack Sutton
Richmond v Cambridge
Referee: George Selwood
ARs: Michael Lamb & Simon Adams
Coventry v Exeter
Referee: Henry Pearson
ARs: Iain Kiy & Ryan Collier
Bedford Blues v Ampthill
Referee: Jamie Parr
ARs: Kieron Henry & James Pidding
France: Top 14 – round 3
ASM Clermont v Section Paloise
Referee: Pierre Bru
ARs: Vincent Blasco Baque & Stephane Boyer
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
Castres Olympique v Aviron Bayonnais
Referee: Adrien Marbot
ARs: Benoit Albert Bonnafous & Ludovic Carrillo
TMO: Laurent Sclafer
LOU Rugby v Stade Français Paris
Referee: Thomas Charabas
ARs: Stephane Crapoix & Benoit Rousselet
TMO: Jean Luc Rebollal
Union Bordeaux-Bègles v US Montauban
Referee: Benjamin Hernandez
ARs: David Beun & Mathieu Noirot
TMO: Cyril Lafon
USA Perpignan v Racing 92
Referee: Pierre Brousset
ARs: Flavien Hourquet & Vivien Praderie
TMO: Patrick Dellac
Montpellier Hérault Rugby v Stade Toulousain
Referee: Kevin Bralley
ARs: Remi Aiguebonne & Cyrille Boulay
TMO: Cedric Marchat
RC Toulon v Stade Rochelais
Referee: Jeremy Rozier
ARs: Thomas Chereque & Evan Urruzmendi
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
France: ProD2 – round 4
FC Grenoble Rugby v USON Nevers
Referee: Thibault Santamaria
ARs: Christophe Bultet & Damien Dauvissat
TMO: Jean Lespes
Biarritz Olympique PB v CA Brive
Referee: Pierre Baptiste Nuchy
ARs: Florian Capelle & Danny Groizeleau
TMO: Christophe Berdos
Valence Romans v Soyaux-Angoulême XV
Referee: Jonathan Dufort
ARs: Abdjallil El Khaoulani & Charles Morel
TMO: Akim Hadj Bachir
AS Béziers Hérault v Stade Montois Rugby
Referee: Jonathan Gasnier
ARs: Nicolas Bridoux & Julien Camus
TMO: Bruno Bessot
Colomiers Rugby v Stade Aurillacois
Referee: Stephane Coulon
ARs: Cedric Hueso & Ludovic Sacarot
TMO: Mourad Zitouni
US Carcassonnaise v SU Agen
Referee: Anthony Lac
ARs: Hugues Samora & Yannick Vals
TMO: Herve Lasausa
US Dax v Oyonnax Rugby
Referee: Julien Caulier
ARs: Clement Jossier & Aurelien Laloo
TMO: Julien Castaignede
RC Vannes v Provence Rugby
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
ARs: Vincent Chouquet & Hugo Dutreuilh
TMO: Patrick Pechambert
Super Rugby AUS – round 2
Waratahs v Reds
Referee: George Myers
ARs: Jeremy Markey & Dan Andrews
Force v ACT Brumbies
Referee: Jordan Kaminski
ARs: Sam Jones & Graham Cooper
Super Rugby Aus u19
Waratahs u19 v Reds u19
Referee: Jeremy Markey
ARs: George Myers & Hamish Biddle
Force u19 v ACT Brumbies u19
Referee: Todd Cummings
ARs: Ben Jones & Dom Carlson
New Zealand: Bunnings NPC – Round 8
Taranaki v Hawke’s Bay
Referee: Mike Winter
ARs: Warwick Lahmert & Will Johnston
TMO: Cam Stone
Wellington v Southland
Referee: Stu Curran
ARs: Matt Thomas & Matt Perry
TMO: Jared Clarke
Counties Manukau v Auckland
Referee: Angus Mabey
ARs: Liam Sargent & Brandon Roberts
TMO: John Wright
Canterbury v Otago (Ranfurly Shield match)
Referee: Marcus Playle
ARs: William Todd & James Munro
TMO: Gareth Reed
Tasman v Waikato
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
ARs: Damon Smith & Dave Woodhouse
TMO: Reece Weir
North Harbour v Northland
Referee: Warwick Lahmert
ARs: Scott McKenzie & Caleb Greaves
TMO: Jonathan Paterson
Manawatu v Bay of Plenty
Referee: Todd Petrie
ARs: Stu Curran & Matty McEwen
TMO: Carl Baker
NZ: Bunnings Heartlands Championship – Round 6
Mid Canterbury v King Country
Referee: Ben Alexander
ARs: Josh Rooney & Jeremy Robinson
Poverty Bay v South Canterbury
Referee: Tim Oliff
ARs: Royce Maynard & Lenny Ferris
Thames Valley v East Coast
Referee: Ben Woolerton
ARs: Stu Watts & Ryan Rogers
Wairarapa Bush v Buller
Referee: Matt Astle
ARs: Alistair Payne & Andrew Stringer
Whanganui v Horowhenua Kapiti
Referee: Will Johnston
ARs: Amon Rimene & Oliver Holst
West Coast v North Otago
Referee: Will Todd
ARs: Chris O’Malley & Glenn Baxter
NZ: Farah Palmer Cup
Premiership- Round 7
Counties Manukau v Auckland
Referee: Erin Doherty
ARs: Brian Wayne & Puhi Te Ringa
Canterbury v Bay of Plenty
Referee: Hayley Hutana
ARs: Josh Edmonds & Cameron Wootton
Hawke’s Bay v Waikato
Referee: Matty McEwen
ARs: Willie Eyles & Andy Clark
Championship Final
Otago v Northland
Referee: Sam Adam
ARs: Erin Doherty & Georgia Mason
Netherlands: Men’s Erklasse
Rotterdamse RC v RC ‘t Gooi
Referee: Gert Visser
Hoek van Holland v RC Eemland
Referee: Bram Oudman
AAC v RC The Dukes
Referee: Edwin van der Spek
RFC Haarlem v Haagsche RC
Referee: Oliver Hadfield
Breda RC v RFC Oisterwijk Oysters
Referee: Koen Maaijen
RC DIOK v Castricum RC
Referee: Katherine Ritchie
Scotland: Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership
Heriots Rugby Women v Garioch WRFC
Referee: Yvonne Tunnicliff
ARs: Lee Murru & Niamh Hay
Watsonians WRFC v Hillhead Jordanhill WRFC
Referee: Rosie Evans
ARs: TBC & Ronan MacHugh
Corstorphine Cougars WRFC v Cartha Queens Park WRFC
Referee: MC Dixon
ARs: Murray Galloway & Ross Smillie
Stirling County WRFC v Biggar WRFC
Referee: Sophie Tougher-Mitchell
ARs: Georgina Adams & Gavin Macdonald
Scotland: Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership
Melrose Rugby v Currie Chieftains
Referee: David Sutherland
ARs: Digby Thomas & Bob Nevins
Watsonians v Ayr
Referee: Jonny Mackenzie
ARs: Kyle McAdlinden & Allan Parry
GHA v Glasgow Hawks
Referee: Ciaran Stark
ARs: Scott Cubitt & TBC
Hawick v Heriot’s Rugby Men
Referee: Samuel O’Neil
ARs: Brian McGuff & David Changleng
Kelso v Selkirk
Referee: David Young
ARs: Bryan Johnston & Dave McKervail