Referee, Morgan White from Hong Kong China will kick off the men’s international window this weekend. He’ll oversee a non-test-match fixture in Tokyo as Japan and Australia build up to their Autumn series. In New Zealand, it’s the NPC semi finals and the finals of the Heartlands Championship. Warwick Lahmert and Ben Woolerton (top right) take charge of their debut finals in the Heartlands.
In England, Karl Dickson (top left) joins the Prem Rugby 100 Club as he makes his centenary match at Sandy Park in Exeter. He becomes the 18th member of that group. Still quite some way off Wayne Barnes who maxed out at 273 before he retired.
We have a pretty full list from around the globe which this week sees some referees away from their normal locations. In France, Japan’s Katsuki Furuse is on a pre-season trip to referee the ProD2 match between Vannes and Oyonnax. In Hong Kong, a slightly shorter flight for Australia’s Jordan Kaminski and Jess Ling (bottom left) as they both officiate in the men’s and women’s premierships there.
In Italy, the women’s elite premiership kicks off for a new season. Beatrice Smussi (bottom right) will ref the Colorno/Capitolina tie. And good luck to Juan de Bod and Giana Viljoen who offciate the SoutH African u19s and u21s cup finals this weekend.
Go well everyone, enjoy your rugby
Keith
International
Japan XV v Australia A
National Stadium, Tokyo
Referee: Morgan White (HKC)
ARs: JRFU Appointment
TMO: JRFU Appointment
Rugby Europe Conference
Finland v Estonia
Referee: James Thomas (SUI)
Norway v Luxembourg
Referee: Bram Oudman (Ned)
Rugby Europe Super Cup
Brussels Devils v Lusitanos
Referee: Nicolae Fratila (Rou)
ARs: Eugeniu Procopi (Mol) & Andrei Gheorge (Rou)
Romanian Wolves v Bohemia Warriors
Referee: Ethan Glass (Swi)
ARs: Maria Latos (Ger) & Arnaud Kooger (Swi)
Delta v Castilla y Leon Iberians
Referee: Saba Makharadze (Geo)
ARs: Ioseb Japaridze (Geo) & Shota Tsagareishvili (Geo)
West Asia Super Rugby
Doha v Bahrain
Referee: Matt Riley
ARs: Gregory Kelly & Joanna Bezuidenhout
New Zealand: Bunnings NPC – Semi finals
Otago v Bay of Plenty
Referee: Paul Williams
ARs: Jackson Henshaw & Ben Woolerton
TMO: Angus Mabey
Canterbury v Hawke’s Bay
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
ARs: James Doleman & Fraser Hannon
TMO: Angus Mabey
NZ: Bunnings Heartlands Championships
Meads Cup Final
Mid Canterbury v Thames Valley
Referee: Warwick Lahmert
ARs: Dan Moore & Will Todd
Lochore Cup Final
North Otago v Horowhenua Kapiti
Referee: Ben Woolerton
ARs: Jackson Henshaw & Caleb Neilson
BKT United Rugby Championship – Round 4
Edinburgh Rugby v Benetton
Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, 12th league game)
ARs: Jonny MacKenzie (SRU) & Finlay Brown (SRU)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
Connacht Rugby v Vodacom Bulls
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 93rd league game)
ARs: Andrew Cole (IRFU) & Jack MacNeice (IRFU)
TMO: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Dragons RFC v Cardiff Rugby
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR, 17th league game)
ARs: Craig Evans (WRU) & Adam Jones (WRU)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)
Lions v Scarlets
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 31st league game)
ARs: Griffin Colby (SARU) & AJ Jacobs (SARU)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
Hollywoodbets Sharks v Ulster Rugby
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 111th league game)
ARs: Morne Ferreira (SARU) & Sean Muller (SARU)
TMO: Ben Connor (WRU)
Leinster Rugby v Munster Rugby
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 44th league game)
ARs: Peter Martin (IRFU) & Jonny Erskine (IRFU)
TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)
Zebre Parma v DHL Stormers
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 109th league game)
ARs: Filippo Russo (FIR) & Lorenzo Pedezzi (FIR)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Ospreys v Glasgow Warriors
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 56th league game)
ARs: Ben Breakspear (WRU) AR 2: Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
England: The Prem – round 4
Gloucester Rugby v Bristol Bears
Referee Craig Maxwell-Keys (133rd match)
ARs: Sara Cox & Neil Chivers
TMO: Dan Jones
Newcastle Falcons v Northampton Saints
Referee Ian Tempest (123rd match)
ARs: Hamish Smales & James Clarke
TMO: Peter Allan
Leicester Tigers v Bath Rugby
Referee Adam Leal (56th match)
ARs: Hamish Grant & Jamie Leahy
TMO: Christophe Ridley
Saracens v Sale Sharks
Referee Matthew Carley (152nd match)
ARs: Anthony Woodthorpe & John Meredith
TMO: Andrew Jackson
Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins
Referee Karl Dickson (100th match)
ARs: Richard Gordon & Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: Dean Richards
England: The Champ – round 3
Richmond v Ealing Trailfinders
Referee Michael Lamb
ARs: Jamie Parr & Mike Woods
Nottingham Rugby v Caldy
Referee Harry Walbaum
ARs: Charlie Gayther & Iain Kiy
Worcester Warriors v Ampthill
Referee Benjamin Wood
ARs: Matt Sharpe & Greg Macdonald
Chinnor v Coventry
Referee Henry Pearson
ARs: Jonathan Cook & James Pidding
Bedford Blues v Hartpury
Referee Dan Jones
ARs: Mike Hudson & Kieron Henry
Cornish Pirates v Doncaster Knights
Referee Joe James
ARs: Andy Wigley & Jack Sutton
Cambridge v London Scottish
Referee Alex Thomas
ARs: Gregg Dawson & Veryan Boscawen
Scotland: Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership 2025-26
Heriot’s Rugby Men v Selkirk
Referee: Ian Kenny
ARs: Jayme McGoldrick & Gordon Galashan
Melrose Rugby v Glasgow Hawks
Referee: David Young
ARs: Chelsea Gillespie & Allan Parry
Watsonians v Hawick
Referee: Rob McDowell
ARs: Fergus Hollins & Kevin McGhee
Ayr v Kelso
Referee: Ciaran Stark
ARs: Kyle McAlinden & Alistair Watt
Currie Chieftains v GHA
Referee: Michael Todd
ARs: Michael Milner & Willie Anderson
Scotland: Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership
Cartha Queens Park WRFC v Watsonians WRFC
Referee: Craig Clark
ARs: Iain Morrison & Walter Gaffney
France: Top14 – Rd 7
Aviron Bayonnais v ASM Clermont
Referee: Pierre Brousset
ARs: David Beun & Julien Caulier
TMO: Cyril Lafon
Castres Olympique v Stade Français Paris
Referee: Pierre Baptiste Nuchy
ARs: Cyrille Boulay & Pierre Bru
TMO: Tual Trainini
Montpellier Hérault Rugby v LOU Rugby
Referee: Vivien Praderie
ARs: Ludovic Cayre & Stephane Crapoix
TMO: Jean Lespes
Stade Rochelais v US Montauban
Referee: Jeremy Rozier
ARs: Cedric Hueso & Anthony Lac
TMO: Eric Gauzins
USA Perpignan v Union Bordeaux-Bègles
Referee: Kevin Bralley
ARs: Vincent Blasco Baque & Laurent Millotte
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
Section Paloise v Stade Toulousain
Referee: Adrien Marbot
ARs: Benoit Albert Bonnafous & Jonathan Gasnier
TMO: Julien Castaignede
RC Toulon v Racing 92
Referee: Benoit Rousselet
ARs: Thomas Chereque & Stephane Coulon
TMO: Herve Lasausa Lespy Labaylette
France: ProD2 – Round 7
RC Vannes v Oyonnax Rugby
Referee: Katsuki Furuse (Jpn)
ARs: Danny Groizeleau & Anthony Lac
TMO: Eric Gauzins
Soyaux-Angoulême XV v Biarritz Olympique PB
Referee: Damien Dauvissat
ARs: Thomas Dufau Dussarrat & Sylvain Jaymes
TMO: Patrick Pechambert
AS Béziers Hérault v Valence Romans
Referee: Remi Aiguebonne
ARs: Charles Morel & Mickael Simon
TMO: Mourad Zitouni
Provence Rugby v USON Nevers
Referee: Benjamin Hernandez
ARs: Wissam Baamara & Yannick Vals
TMO: Patrick Dellac
Stade Aurillacois v US Dax
Referee: Aurelie Groizeleau
ARs: Abdjallil El Khaoulani & Hugues Samora
TMO: Laurent Sclafer
Stade Montois Rugby v FC Grenoble Rugby
Referee: Mathieu Noirot
ARs: Julien Camus & Ghyslain Elias
TMO: Akim Hadj Bachir
US Carcassonnaise v Colomiers Rugby
Referee: Ludovic Carrillo
ARs: Richard Duhau & Ludovic Sacarot
TMO: Jean Luc Rebollal
SU Agen v CA Brive
Referee: Thibault Santamaria
ARs: Florian Capelle & Aurelien Laloo
TMO: Christophe Berdos
Hong Kong China: Nan Fung Group AIRSIDE Men’s Premiership
Kroll USRC Tigers v Kowloon Rugby Club
Referee: Sam Brown (22nd Prem Appointment)
ARs: Jordan Kaminski (Aus) & Jess Ling (Aus)
Societe Generale Valley v HKFC Natixis Club
Referee: Jordan Kaminski (Aus)
ARs: Stephen Copeman & Allen Judge
HKU Sandy Bay v MND Hong Kong Scottish
Referee: Nico Fox (5th Prem Appointment)
ARs: Sam Brown & Thomas Ngan
Hong Kong China: Nan Fung Group AIRSIDE Women’s Premiership
Societe Generale Valley v HKFC Natixis Ice
Referee: Jess Ling (Aus)
ARs: Jackie Ho & Gabriel Lee
Kowloon Rugby Women v Kroll USRC Tigers Women
Referee: Jan Tang (9th WPrem Appointment)
ARs: Sam Chan & Katsu Schichiji
Causeway Sandy Bay v Gai Wu Falcons
Referee: Patrick Kwok (36th WPrem Appointment)
ARs: Steven Yuen & Jackie Ho
Spain: Liga Iberdrola De Rugby (Women’s – Round 3)
Olimpico De Pozuelo CR v Rialta Crat Coruña
Referee: Luis Lasala De La Rosa
Getxo Rugby v Club De Rugby Sant Cugat
Referee: Jenny Lee
Simon Verde Sport Cocos Sevilla v Complutense Cisneros
Referee: Joaquin Santoro Ferreiro
Colina Clinic El Salvador v Silicius Rugby Majadahonda
Referee: Federico Javier Japas
Italy: Serie A Elite Machile (Men’s)
Mogliano Veneto Rugby v Rugby Rovigo Delta
Referee: Daniele Pompa
ARs: Alberto Favaro & Federico Boraso
TMO: Luca Trentin
Biella Rugby Club v Rugby Viadana 1970
Referee: Matteo Angelo Locatelli
ARs: Francesco Meschini & Antonio Luzza
TMO: Filippo Bertelli
Valorugby Emilia v Rugby Vicenza 2025
Referee: Dante D’elia
ARs: Dario Merli & Ferdinando Cusano
TMO: Vincenzo Schipani
Rugby Lyons v G.S. Fiamme Oro Rugby Roma
Referee: Riccardo Bonato
ARs: Lorenzo Pedezzi & Marco Sergi
TMO: Stefano Roscini
Rugby Petrarca v Rugby Colorno 1975
Referee: Clara Munarini
ARs: Lorenzo Negro & Simone Boaretto
TMO: Giuseppe Vivarini
Italy: Serie A Elite Femminile (Women’s)
Villorba Rugby v CUS Milano Rugby
Referee: Daniele Sacchetto
ARs: Marco Vianello & Riccardo Trotta
Rugby Colorno v Unione Rugby Capitolina
Referee: Beatrice Smussi
ARs: Roberto Botti & Vittorio Scaffardi
Valsugana Rugby Padova v CUS Torino
Referee: Alice Torra
ARs: Giovanni Garro & Edoardo Basso
Neapolis Felix v Benetton Rugby Treviso
Referee: Franco Rosella
ARs: Vincenzo Riccio & Mario Esposito
South Africa: SA Rugby Cup Finals
SA Rugby U21s Cup Final
Hollywoodbets Sharks U21 v Fidelity ADT Lions U21
Referee: Juan de Bod
SA Rugby U19 Cup Final
Vodacom Bulls U19 v DHL Western Province U19
Referee: Giana Viljoen
