Happy New Year to you all! As 2026 gets under way, there’s not a huge amount of rugby being played, but we do have the top men’s teams in action in England, France and across the URC.
In France, the Top 14 has a full round of fixtures. The top side as we enter 2026 is Toulouse who travel down the road to Perpignan this weekend. Adrien Marbot (pictured top left) referees that one. In England’s Prem, Sara Cox (top right) oversees the Saints v Quins match – usually such quiet affairs…
In the RFU Champ, one referee, Morgan White (bottom right) from Hong Kong China, is on tour and will referee Hartpury v Cambridge.
In South Africa, the Stormers play the Bulls and the Sharks play the Lions in the URC. The SA refs contingent oversee those two, with Griffin Colby (bottom left) on the former, and Christopher Allison on the latter.
Have a great 2026 and enjoy the matches this weekend
Keith
England: Gallagher Prem – round 9
Bristol Bears v Sale Sharks
Referee: Joe James
ARs: Craig Maxwell-Keys & Greg Macdonald
TMO: David Rose
Newcastle Redbulls v Gloucester Rugby
Referee: Christophe Ridley
ARs: Richard Gordon & Wayne Falla
TMO: Peter Allan
Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Luke Pearce
ARs: Anthony Woodthorpe & Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: Dean Richards
Northampton Saints v Harlequins
Referee: Sara Cox
ARs: Dan Jones & Neil Chivers
TMO: Andrew Jackson
Leicester Tigers v Saracens
Referee: Matthew Carley
ARs: Karl Dickson & Calum Howard
TMO: Stuart Terheege
England: The Champ
Coventry v Cornish Pirates
Referee: Hamish Grant
ARs: Jack Sutton & James Clarke
Doncaster Knights v Caldy
Referee: George Selwood
ARs: Iain Kiy & James Pidding
Ampthill v Nottingham Rugby
Referee: Charlie Gayther
ARs: Michael Lamb & Kieron Henry
Hartpury v Cambridge
Referee: Morgan White (HKC)
ARs: Andy Wigley & Ben Simpson
Chinnor v Bedford Blues
Referee: Jamie Parr
ARs: Mike Hudson & Jonathan Healy
Ealing Trailfinders v Worcester Warriors
Referee: Adam Leal
ARs: Ben Wood & Veryan Boscawen
Richmond v London Scottish
Referee: Harry Walbaum
ARs: Matt Sharpe & Mike Woods
BKT United Rugby Championship – Round 9
Dragons RFC v Scarlets
Referee: Ben Connor (WRU, 6th league game)
ARs: Carwyn Sion (WRU) & Gareth Newman (WRU)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
Ospreys v Cardiff Rugby
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU, 48th league game)
ARs: Ben Breakspear (WRU) & Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU)
TMO: Craig Evans (WRU)
Ulster Rugby v Munster Rugby
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 94th league game)
ARs: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU) & Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: Dave Sutherland (SRU)
Hollywoodbets Sharks v Lions
Referee: Chris Allison (SARU, 6th league game)
ARs: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) & Hanru van Rooyen (SARU)
TMO: Egon Seconds (SARU)
DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls
Referee: Griffin Colby (SARU, 10th league game)
ARs: Morne Ferreira (SARU) & Sean Muller (SARU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
Benetton v Edinburgh Rugby
Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU, 11th league game)
ARs: Alberto Facaro (FIR) & Riccardo Bonato (FIR)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Leinster Rugby v Connacht Rugby
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 112th league game)
ARs: Keane Davison (IRFU) & Chris Lough (IRFU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Glasgow Warriors v Zebre Parma
Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, 16th league game)
ARs: Sam Grove-White (SRU) & Sam O’Neil (SRU)
TMO: Keith David (WRU)
France: Top 14 – round 14
USA Perpignan v Stade Toulousain
Referee: Adrien Marbot
ARs: Stephane Coulon & Stephane Crapoix
TMO: Herve Lasausa Lespy Labaylette
LOU Rugby v Section Paloise
Referee: Pierre Baptiste Nuchy
ARs: Jonathan Gasnier & Cedric Hueso
TMO: Jean Lespes
Montpellier Hérault Rugby v Aviron Bayonnais
Referee: Tual Trainini
ARs: Ludovic Carrillo & Thomas Chereque
TMO: Jean Luc Rebollal
Stade Français Paris v Castres Olympique
Referee: Vincent Blasco Baque
ARs: Stephane Boyer & Hugo Dutreuilh
TMO: Julien Castaignede
US Montauban v ASM Clermont
Referee: Evan Urruzmendi
ARs: Anthony Lac & Benoit Lapassade
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
Union Bordeaux-Bègles v Racing 92
Referee: Benoit Rousselet
ARs: David Beun & Damien Dauvissat
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
Stade Rochelais v RC Toulon
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
ARs: Benoit Albert Bonnafous & Thomas Charabas
TMO: Eric Gauzins
