Well obviously the big appointment of the weekend is for Hollie Davidson (pic top left) who takes charge of her second RWC final. She joins Ed Morrison and Andre Watson in quite the list of those who have 2 world finals under their belt! Bravo also to Ella Goldsmith (top right) who looks after the Women’s Rugby World Cup bronze match – a real statement appt for the future.
There’s another pretty big match in Chile, where England’s Luke Pearce (bottom left) will referee the second leg of the RWC Qualifier between Chile and Samoa. Winner will head to Australia in 2027. Andrew Brace managed to leave the scoreline at 32 each at the end of the first leg. Surely that’s a fine…
Elsewhere, the URC and Prem Rugby make a return for a new season. Both will feature the 20min red card replacement this year, with the URC using the TMO (who gets extra support in the van) to conduct an off-field review. In the Prem (similar to other leagues in France, NZ, Australia etc), they will decide that with the TMO at the time of the incident. Remember, a red card (or orange in France) means the player cannot return under any circumstances. Unless it’s a really bad offence, then can be replaced later.
There’s NPC, Heartlands and Farah Palmer Cup semis in New Zealand, Super Rugby Aus and Ereklasse in the Netherlands. In France, Damien Dauvissat (bottom right) makes his ProD2 debut at Stade Montois. Bon match, monsieur! There’s no action in Scotland’s premierships this weekend, but we do have some Ireland, Spain and West Asia Premiership appointments as they all start up again.
I’ll be at Twickenham if you’re going – let me know!
Enjoy, whatever and wherever you’re heading
Keith
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025
Final: Canada v England
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Sco)
ARs: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SA) & Clara Munarini (Ita)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ire)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
Bronze Medal match: France v New Zealand
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (Aus)
ARs: Kat Roche (USA) & Sara Cox (Eng)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA)
FPRO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
RWC27 Qualifier: South America/Pacific play-off
Chile v Samoa (in Vina del Mar)
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
ARs: Damián Schneider (Arg) & Tomás Bertazza (Arg)
TMO: Marcelo Pilara (Arg)
The Rugby Championship – round 5
New Zealand v Australia (in Auckland)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
ARs: Matthew Carley (Eng) & Morne Ferreira (RSA)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
FPRO: Andrew Jackson (Eng)
South Africa v Argentina (in Durban)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Aus)
ARs: Pierre Brousset (Fra) & Angus Mabey (NZ)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Aus)
FPRO: Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
England: Prem Rugby – round 1
Sale Sharks v Gloucester Rugby
Referee: Christophe Ridley (88th game)
ARs: George Selwood & John Meredith
TMO: Peter Allan
Harlequins v Bath Rugby
Referee: Karl Dickson (98th game)
ARs: Richard Gordon & Simon Harding
TMO: Stuart Terheege
Newcastle Falcons v Saracens
Referee: Adam Leal (53rd game)
ARs: Hamish Grant & Jamie Leahy
TMO: Hamish Smales
Northampton Saints v Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Joe James (3rd game)
ARs: Craig Maxwell-Keys & Jonathan Healy
TMO: Dan Jones
Bristol Bears v Leicester Tigers
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (44th game)
ARs: George Selwood & Calum Howard
TMO: David Rose
England: Pre-season friendlies
Hartpury 1st XV v Ealing Trailfinders
Referee: Harry Walbaum
ARs: Charlie Gayther & Iain Kiy
Doncaster Knights v Edinburgh
Referee: Henry Pearson
ARs: Matt Sharpe & Jack Sutton
Caldy v Chinnor
Referee: Jamie Parr
ARs: Kieron Henry & Gregg Dawson
West Asia Super Rugby – round 1
Dubai Exiles v Bahrain
Referee: Jaco De Wit
ARs: Matt Riley & Neil Du Plessis
Doha v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Referee: James Fairbourn
ARs: Neil Du Plessis & Joanna Bezuidenhout
Dubai Hurricanes v Jebel Ali Dragons
Ref: JP Clements
ARs: Matt Riley & Goran Safar
BKT United Rugby Championship – round 1
DHL Stormers v Leinster
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Its, 42nd league game)
ARs: Sean Muller (SA) & Stephan Geldenhuys (SA)
TMO: Adam Jones (Wal)
Ulster v Dragons RFC
Referee: Griffin Colby (SA, 7th league game)
ARs: Andrew Cole (Ire) & Sam Holt (Ire)
TMO: Chris Allison (SA)
Glasgow Warriors v Hollywoodbets Sharks
Referee: Craig Evans (Wal, 68th league game)
ARs: Ru Campbell (Sco) &Rob McDowell (Sco)
TMO: Keith David (Wal)
Vodacom Bulls v Ospreys
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Ita, 15th league game)
ARs: JD Jadezweni (SA) & Dylen November (SA)
TMO: Peter Martin (Ire)
Zebre Parma v Edinburgh Rugby
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wal, 109th league game)
ARs: Alberto Favero (Ita) & Lorenzo Pedezzi (Ita)
TMO: Aled Griffths (Wal)
Scarlets v Munster
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Sco, 54th league game)
ARs: Craig Evans (Wal) & Marcus Caudle (Wal)
TMO: Colin Brett (Sco)
Cardiff Rugby v Lions
Referee: Fillipo Russo (Ita, 5th league game)
ARs: Ben Breakspear (Wal) & Lucas Yendle (Wal)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (Ita)
Connacht v Benetton
Referee: Chris Allison (SA, 4th league game)
ARs: Robbie Jenkinson (Ire) & Tómas O’Sullivan (Ire)
TMO: Griffin Colby (SA)
France: Top 14 – round 4
Stade Français Paris v Union Bordeaux-Bègles
Referee: Luc Ramos
ARs: Stephane Coulon & Stephane Crapoix
TMO: Christophe Berdos
Racing 92 v ASM Clermont
Referee: Vivien Praderie
ARs: Stephane Boyer & Anthony Lac
TMO: Julien Castaignede
Section Paloise v LOU Rugby
Referee: Jonathan Dufort
ARs: Thomas Chereque & Thibault Santamaria
TMO: Eric Gauzins
Stade Rochelais v USA Perpignan
Referee: Adrien Marbot
ARs: Thomas Charabas & Flavien Hourquet
TMO: Cedric Marchat
US Montauban v Montpellier Hérault Rugby
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
ARs: Remi Aiguebonne & Cyrille Boulay
TMO: Jean Lespes
Stade Toulousain v Castres Olympique
Referee: Tual Trainini
ARs: David Beun & Pierre Baptiste Nuchy
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
Aviron Bayonnais v RC Toulon
Referee: Kevin Bralley
ARs: Benoit Albert Bonnafous & Jonathan Gasnier
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
France: ProD2 – round 5
SU Agen v AS Béziers Hérault
Referee: Benoit Rousselet
ARs: Benoit Caballero & Benoit Lapassade
TMO: Cyril Lafon
Stade Aurillacois v RC Vannes
Referee: Mathieu Noirot
ARs: Sylvain Brayelle & Adrien Maset
TMO: Laurent Sclafer
Oyonnax Rugby v Valence Romans
Referee: Ludovic Carrillo
ARs: Benjamin Beuriot & Richard Duhau
TMO: Patrick Dellac
Provence Rugby v US Dax
Referee: Hugo Dutreuilh
ARs: Ghyslain Elias & Benjamin Hernandez
TMO: Patrick Pechambert
Soyaux-Angoulême XV v Colomiers Rugby
Referee: Vincent Blasco Baque
ARs: Benjamin Assie & Sylvain Jaymes
TMO: Mourad Zitouni
Stade Montois Rugby v US Carcassonnaise
Referee: Damien Dauvissat
ARs: Pierre Bru & Pierre Olivier Julien
TMO: Jean Luc Rebollal
USON Nevers v Biarritz Olympique PB
Referee: Julien Caulier
ARs: Alexis Darche & Mickael Simon
TMO: Akim Hadj Bachir
CA Brive v FC Grenoble Rugby
Referee: Evan Urruzmendi
ARs: Julien Camus & Laurent Millotte
TMO: Herve Lasausa
NZ: Bunnings NPC – round 9
Hawke’s Bay v Auckland
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
ARs: Stu Catley & Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri
TMO: Jono Bredin
Southland v Tasman
Referee: Fraser Hannon
ARs: Joshua Hamill & Cassie Watt
TMO: Andrew Rowland
Otago v North Harbour (Ranfurly Shield Match)
Referee: Jackson Henshaw
ARs: Fraser Hannon & Jackson Brierly
TMO: Rob Wells
Taranaki v Wellington
Referee: James Doleman
ARs: Warwick Lahmert & Will Johnston
TMO: Richard Kelly
Counties Manukau v Manawatu
Referee: Mike Winter
ARs: Liam Sargent & Brandon Roberts
TMO: John Wright
Bay of Plenty v Waikato
Referee: Marcus Playle
ARs: Tiana Anderson & Ryan Waite
TMO: Estelle Whaiapu
Northland v Canterbury
Referee: Paul Williams
ARs: Nathan Chestnut & Travis Larsen
TMO: Llew Smart
NZ: Bunnings Heartland Championship – Round 6
Poverty Bay v Mid Canterbury
Referee: Stu Catley
ARs: Royce Maynard & Keelyn Smith
North Otago v South Canterbury
Referee: Caleb Neilson
ARs: TBC
Buller v East Coast
Referee: Will Day
ARs: David Woodhouse & Ben McWilliam
Horowhenua Kapiti v Wairarapa Bush
Referee: Matt Thomas
ARs: Quentin Hathaway & Greg McCardle
King Country v Whanganui
Referee: Ben Woolerton
ARs: Jamie Bell & Blair Bacon
Thames Valley v West Coast
Referee: Matt Astle
ARs: Stu Watts & Ryan Rogers
NZ: Farah Palmer Cup – Premiership semi-finals
Canterbury v Manawatu
Referee: Erin Doherty
ARs: Taneika Uerata & Hayley Hutana
Waikato v Auckland
Referee: Liam Sargent
ARs: Tiana Anderson & Ben Brownlie
Australia: Super Rugby AUS
ACT Brumbies v Waratahs
Referee: Todd Cummings
ARs: Nic Berry & Louis Trisley
Force v Reds
Referee: Graham Cooper
ARs: Sam Jones & Jordan Kaminski
Super Rugby Aus U19
ACT Brumbies U19 v Waratahs U19
Referee: Louis Trisley
ARs: Steven Koh & Riley Byrne
Force U19 v Reds U19
Referee: Jeremy Markey
ARs: Jordan Kaminski & Dom Carlson
Ireland: Energia All Ireland League
Ballynahinch v Young Munster
Referee: Andrew Cole
Lansdowne v Cork Constitution
Referee: Jonathan Erskine
St Marys College RFC v Clontarf
Referee: Keane Davison
UCD v Terenure College RFC
Referee: Stuart Gaffikin
Nenagh Ormond v Old Belvedere
Referee: Padraic Reidy
Spain: Division de Honor (Men’s)
Ampo Ordizia v Huesitos La Vila Rugby Club
Referee: Jose Luis Murillo Garcia-Gil
Inexo El Salvador v DH VRAC Quesos Entrepinares
Referee: Alfonso Mirat Servan
Silicius Alcobendas Rugby v Cajasol Real Ciencias Sevilla
Referee: Jon Ibisate Alday
Recoletas Burgos-Caja Rural v Unio Esportiva Santboiana
Referee: Eki Fanlo Antzin
Barça Rugby v Complutense Cisneros
Referee: Jenny Lee
Descansa v CR Liceo Frances
Referee: TBC
Spain: Liga Ibderdola de Rugby (Women’s)
Colina Clinic El Salvador v Simon Verde Sport Cocos Sevilla
Referee: Lorena Martinez Fernandez
Getxo Rugby v Complutense Cisneros
Referee: Eduard Marti Martin Serralta
Olimpico De Pozuelo CR v Fecha Partido
Referee: Joaquin Santoro Ferreiro
Netherlands: Men’s Ereklasse
RFC Oisterwijk Oysters v RFC Haarlem
Referee: Katherine Ritchie
Haagsche RC v AAC
Referee: Gert Visser
RC The Dukes v Hoek van Holland
Referee: Edwin van der Spek
RC Eemland v Rotterdamse RC
Referee: Wissam Letaif
RC ‘t Gooi v RC DIOK
Referee: Bram Oudman
Castricum RC v Breda RC
Referee: Conrad Riepe
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