We’re back in European competition window this weekend as the Champions and Challenge Cup return for round three. We suspect there’ll be some anxiously updated weather charts around the north at least – Luc Ramos (pictured top left) kicks things off in Edinburgh on Friday night…hopefully! Sticking with Edinburgh, it’s round 3 of the Celtic Challenge – the cross border women’s competition – and the Edinburgh women’s team will host Ireland’s Wolfhounds. Ciaran Stark (bottom left) will referee that one.
In Italy, there’s a full round of both the Serie A men’s and women’s leagues. In Torino, Naima Annoni will referee ethe Serie A Elite Femminile match against Villorba. Elsewhere in Europe, there’s the referees, ARs and TMOs for Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Spain and France.
The Japanese refs had a busy Christmas but after a break last weekend, they’re all back in play. Ibuki Tetsuta will be in Saitama as the Wildknights host the BlueRevs. The RefSquad in Hong Kong also return from festive break with both men’s and women’s leagues in action.
Enjoy your weekend
Keith
Investec Champions Cup — Round 3
Edinburgh Rugby v Gloucester Rugby
Referee: Luc Ramos (Fra)
ARs: Thomas Charabas (Fra) & Jonathan Gasnier (Fra)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
Castres Olympique v Bath Rugby
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ire)
ARs: Andrew Cole (Ire) & Dan Carson (Ire)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ire)
Vodacom Bulls v Bristol Bears
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
ARs: Jeremy Rozier (Fra) & Benjamin Hernandez (Fra)
TMO: Denis Grenouillet (Fra)
ASM Clermont Auvergne v Glasgow Warriors
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
ARs: Joe James (Eng) & Jamie Leahy (Eng)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (Eng)
Sale Sharks v Hollywoodbets Sharks
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wal)
ARs: Adam Jones (Wal) & Ben Connor (Wal)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wal)
Leinster Rugby v Stade Rochelais
Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng)
ARs: Adam Leal (Eng) & John Meredith (Eng)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
Leicester Tigers v Aviron Bayonnais
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Sco)
ARs: Ru Campbell (Sco) & Jonny MacKenzie (Sco)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
Scarlets v Section Paloise
Referee: Sam Grove‑White (Sco)
ARs: Ian Kenny (Sco) & Finlay Brown (Sco)
TMO: David Sutherland (Sco)
Harlequins v DHL Stormers
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
ARs: Shota Tevadze (Geo) & Amber Dunstan‑Stamp (Wal)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)
RC Toulon v Munster Rugby
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
ARs: George Selwood (Eng) & Simon Harding (Eng)
TMO: Hamish Smales (Eng)
Union Bordeaux Bègles v Northampton Saints
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
ARs: Robbie Jenkinson (Ire) & Padraic Reidy (Ire)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ire)
Saracens v Stade Toulousain
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
ARs: Ru Campbell (Sco) & Federico Vedovelli (Ita)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
EPCR Challenge Cup — Round 3 (10–11 Jan 2025)
Newcastle Red Bulls v USA Perpignan
Referee: Peter Martin (Ire)
ARs: Keane Davison (Ire) & Stuart Gaffikin (Ire)
TMO: Mark Patton (Ire)
US Montauban v Black Lion
Referee: Filippo Russo (Ita)
ARs: Riccardo Bonatto (Ita) & Gabriel Chirnoaga (Ita)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Ita)
Stade Français Paris v Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Craig Evans (Wal)
ARs: Carwyn Sion (Wal) & Gareth Newman (Wal)
TMO: Keith David (Wal)
Cardiff Rugby v Racing 92
Referee: Sara Cox (Eng)
ARs: Harry Walbaum (Eng) & Jamie Parr (Eng)
TMO: Peter Allan (Eng)
Lions v Lyon Olympique Universitaire Rugby
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (Eng)
ARs: Christophe Ridley (Eng) & Richard Gordon (Eng)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (Eng)
Benetton Rugby v Dragons RFC
Referee: Benoit Rousselet (Fra)
ARs: Pierre Bru (Fra) & Thomas Chereque (Fra)
TMO: Tual Trainini (Fra)
Zebre Parma v Ospreys
Referee: Griffin Colby (SA)
ARs: Rob McDowell (Sco) & Jack MacNiece (Ire)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
Toyota Cheetahs v Ulster Rugby
Referee: Kevin Bralley (Fra)
ARs: Vincent Blasco‑Baque (Fra) & Flavien Hourquet (Fra)
TMO: Julien Casteignede (Fra)
Montpellier Hérault Rugby v Connacht Rugby
Referee: Morne Ferreira (SA)
ARs: Christopher Allison (SA) & Alex Thomas (Eng)
TMO: David Rose (Eng)
International friendly
Gibraltar v Finland
Referee: Harry Parsons (Eng)
ARs: Dean Crossley (Eng) & Darryl Chapman (Eng)
Celtic Challenge – Round 3
Glasgow Warriors v Gwalia Lightning
Referee: David Young
ARs: Mary Pringle & Rebecca Rees
Edinburgh Rugby v Wolfhounds
Referee: Ciaran Stark
ARs: Angus Healy & Rosie Evans
Brython Thunder v Clovers
Referee: Jess Kavanagh
ARs: TBC
Japan: League One – Division 1
Brave Lupus v Dynaboars
Referee: Masaki Kondo
ARs: Kohei Yoshino & Hibiki Ikeda
TMO: Yosuke Kimura
FPRO: Tasuku Kawahara
Wildknights v BlueRevs
Referee: Ibuki Tetsuta
ARs: Mihetitsu Shimizu & Takahiro Kano
TMO: Minoru Fuji
FPRO: Takuya Ari
D-Rocks v Eagles
Referee: Toshimasa Sekiya
ARs: Ryosuke Yamatani & Yuma Higashimura
TMO: Nobutsugu Oda
FPRO: Kazuhito Taniguchi
Sungoliath v Steelers
Referee: Takehito Namekawa
ARs: Atsushi Yamamoto & Shinji Iida
TMO: Koki Yamauchi
FPRO: Kohei Osawa
Verblitz v Blackrams
Referee: Katsuki Furuse
ARs: Shuhei Hamada & Teruki Innanishi
TMO: Tomohiro Koyama
FPRO: Eri Kamimura
Heat v Spears
Referee: Koki Yamauchi
ARs: Atsushi Yamamoto & Shinji Iida
TMO: Takehito Namekawa
FPRO: Sota Ouchi
Division 2
Liners v Red Dolphins
Referee: Sota Ouchi
ARs: Ryotaro Shindo & Tomohiro Abe
TMO: Katsuhiko Ishii
FPRO: Kenji Koide
Blue Sharks v Red Hurricanes
Referee: Motonori Mizutani
ARs: Ano Kawai & Takehiro Watanabe
TMO: Daiki Kako
FPRO: Yuichi Machida
Green Rockets v Shuttles
Referee: Tetsuya Hirakawa
ARs: Asahi Ikara & Yosuke Matsui
TMO: Mayumi Takahashi
FPRO: Kazuo Ichieha
Division 3
Skyvates v Redregulions
Referee: Yusaku Murata
ARs: Ryutaro Hayashi & Miku Tashiro
TMO: TBC
FPRO: TBC
Rugguts v Levins
Referee: Rikito Nobuhara
ARs: Taiga Hirose & Kouichiro Makino
TMO: TBC
FPRO: TBC
Lerio v Watergush
Referee: Teruki Inanishi
ARs: Yusaku Yurata & Tomohiro Abe
TMO: TBC
FPRO: TBC
Hong Kong China: Nan Fung Group AIRSIDE Men’s Premiership
HKU Sandy Bay v Societe Generale Valley
Referee: Sam Brown (24th Prem Appointment)
ARs: Shane Barr & Patrick Kwok
Kowloon Rugby Club v HKFC Natixis Club
Referee: Morgan White (36th Prem Appointment)
ARs: Craig Chan & Nico Fox
MND Hong Kong Scottish v Kroll USRC Tigers
Referee: Francesco Cammisa (26th Prem Appointment)
ARs: Matt Rodden & Thomas Ngan
Hong Kong China: Nan Fung Group AIRSIDE Women’s Premiership
Causeway Sandy Bay v Societe Generale Valley
Referee: Steven Yuen (41st WPrem Appointment)
ARs: Jackie Ho & Ivy Kwong
Kowloon Rugby Women v HKFC Natixis Ice
Referee: Jan Tang (12th WPrem Appointment)
ARs: Steven Yuen & Jackie Ho
Gai Wu Falcons v USRC Tigers Women
Referee: Matt Rodden (7th WPrem Appointment)
ARs: Sunny Lee & Allen Judge
Scotland: Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership
Heriot’s Rugby Men v Hawick
Referee: Scott Cubitt
ARs: Matthew Wilke & Bob Nevins
Selkirk v Kelso
Referee: Chelsea Gillespie
ARs: Brian Mcguff & Bryan Johnston
Ayr v Watsonians
Referee: Michael Todd
ARs: Stuart Wright & Alistair Watt
Currie Chieftains v Melrose Rugby
Referee: Daniel Evans
ARs: Charles Samson & Ted Coutts
Glasgow Hawks v GHA
Referee: Shane Mansfield
ARs: Beatriz Casares Fernandez & Willie Anderson
Italy: Serie A Elite Maschile
Rugby Rovigo Delta v Rugby Viadana 1970
Referee: Clara Munarini
ARs: Francesco Meschini & Mirco Sergi
TMO: Alex Frasson
Rugby Lyons v Valorugby Emilia
Referee: Lorenzo Negro
ARs: Matteo Angelo Locatelli & Ferdinando Cusano
TMO: Stefano Roscini
G.S. Fiamme Oro Rugby Roma v Rugby Colorno 1975
Referee: Cosimo Danilo Parisi
ARs: Daniele Pompa & Vincenzo Iavarone
TMO: Vincenzo Schipani
Biella Rugby Club v Rugby Vicenza 2025
Referee: Lorenzo Pedezzi
ARs: Dario Merli & Antonio Luzza
TMO: Stefano Roscini
Rugby Petrarca v Mogliano Veneto Rugby
Referee: Franco Rosella
ARs: Riccardo Angelucci & Filippo Vinci
TMO: Giuseppe Vivarini
Italy: Serie A Elite Femminile
Iveco Cus Torino v Villorba Rugby
Referee: Naima Annoni
ARs: Luca Pasquetti & Nicola Catalfamo
Benetton Rugby Treviso v Rugby Colorno Soc.Coop. Sport.Dil.
Referee: Pasquale Picheo
ARs: Francesco Cagnin & Alessandro Zerbinati
CUS Milano Rugby v Unione Rugby Capitolina
Referee: Anna Catagini
ARs: Michele Caldarulo & Giacomo Terenghi
Valsugana Rugby Padova v Neapolis R.Fem.T.Campania Felix
Referee: Andrea Gilberto Fracasso
ARs: Pietro Lazzaretto & Alberto Lucadello
France: Prod2 – Round 16
Provence Rugby v FC Grenoble Rugby
Referee: Thibault Santamaria
ARs: Jonathan Dufort & Pierre Olivier Julien
TMO: Patrick Dellac
Stade Aurillacois v Colomiers Rugby
Referee: Ludovic Carrillo
ARs: Benjamin Beuriot & Mickael Simon
TMO: Cyril Lafon
Oyonnax Rugby v US Carcassonnaise
Referee: Remi Aiguebonne
ARs: Damien Dauvissat & Abdjallil El Khaoulani
TMO: Patrick Pechambert
RC Vannes v Stade Montois Rugby
Referee: Hugo Dutreuilh
ARs: Sylvain Brayelle & Antoine Lebas
TMO: Akim Hadj Bachir
Soyaux-Angoulême XV v USON Nevers
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
ARs: Danny Groizeleau & Evan Urruzmendi
TMO: Laurent Sclafer
US Dax v SU Agen
Referee: Julien Caulier
ARs: Vincent Chouquet & Pierre Baptiste Nuchy
TMO: Herve Lasausa Lespy Labaylette
Valence Romans v AS Béziers Hérault
Referee: Aurelie Groizeleau
ARs: Nicolas Bridoux & Jeremy Paris
TMO: Cedric Marchat
CA Brive v Biarritz Olympique PB
Referee: Stephane Coulon
ARs: Ludovic Sacarot & Yannick Vals
TMO: Christophe Berdos
Ireland: Energia All Ireland League
Lansdowne v St Marys College RFC
Referee: Robbie Jenkinson
Ballynahinch v Clontarf
Referee: Sam Holt
Cork Constitution v UCD
Referee: George Clancy
Nenagh Ormond v Young Munster
Referee: Jonathan Erskine
Terenure College RFC v Old Belvedere
Referee: Ross Whitfield
Spain: Men’s Divison de Honor
Recoletas Burgos-Caja Rural v Barça Rugby
Referee: Alfonso Mirat Servan
ARs: Carlos Lopez Benezet & Jose Tomas Del Rio Blazquez
Silicius Alcobendas Rugby v Ampo Ordizia
Referee: Daniel Sarrion Garcia
ARs: TBC
DH VRAC Quesos Entrepinares v Complutense Cisneros
Referee: Carlos Guerrero Padin
ARs: Jose Ignacio Covassi & Pablo Casellas Saitta
Unio Esportiva Santboiana v Huesitos La Vila Rugby Club
Referee: Ignacio Muñoz Martin
ARs: TBC
Cajasol Real Ciencias Sevilla v CR Liceo Frances
Referee: Jenny Lee
ARs: Carlos Perez Real & Gonzalo Rico Martinez
Spain: Women’s – Liga Iberdrola
Getxo Rugby v Silicius Rugby Majadahonda
Referee: Lluis Llauger Suau
ARs: TBC
Rialta CRAT Coruña v Club de Rugby Sant Cugat
Referee: Jorge Garcia Criado
ARs: TBC
Olimpico de Pozuelo CR v Simon Verde Sport Cocos Sevilla
Referee: Joaquin Santoro Ferreiro
ARs: Alvaro Barrientos Castañeda & Telmo Jesus Avalle Morales
Colina Clinic El Salvador v Complutense Cisneros
Referee: Lorena Martinez Fernandez
ARs: Jose Ignacio Covassi & Pablo Casellas Saitta
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