15-18 Jan: EPCR, Japan, HKC and European match official appointments

It’s the second of two back-to-back EPCR weekend’s in Europe and South Africa and the referees all move around as well. Sara Cox (pictured top left) was in Cardiff last weekend and now heads to warmer climes in Lyon who play the Italian outfit Benetton in the Challenge Cup. Kevin Bralley from France had to call off his game in Holland last week when the pitch just couldnt warm up enough and he’ll be hoping for a better outcome as he steps up to Champions Cup action as Northampton host Scarlets. They’ve had some leadership changes this week so could be one to keep an eye on.

Out in the far east, there’s a full League One list in Japan and men’s and women’s Premiership matches in Hong Kong China. Francesco Cammisa (top right) referees his 27th men’s Premiership match there as Sandy Bay play Kowloon.

Romania’s Alex Ionescu (bottom left) is in Portugal as the Lusitanos host the Brussels Devils in the RE Super Cup. Elsewhere in Europe, there’s the Celtic Challenge round 4 and the AIL Jnr Women’s Cup final in Ireland which Siobhan Daly referees. There’s then men’s and women’s league rounds in Italy and Spain (Jenny Lee (bottom right) is in Barcelona for her Division de Honor match). Finally, there’s men’s Premiership action in Scotland and ProD2 in France.

Enjoy your weekend’s rugby
Keith

Investec Champions Cup — Round 4

Bath Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
ARs: Franco Rosella (Ita) & Luca Bisetto (Ita)
TMO: Tual Trainini (Fra)

Section Paloise v Vodacom Bulls
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
ARs: Craig Evans (Wal) & George Selwood (Eng)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Sco)

Hollywoodbets Sharks v ASM Clermont Auvergne
Referee: Christophe Ridley (Eng)
ARs: Anthony Woodthorpe (Eng) & Richard Gordon (Eng)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (Eng)

Aviron Bayonnais v Leinster Rugby
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
ARs: Joes James (Eng) & Jonathan Healy (Eng)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (Eng)

DHL Stormers v Leicester Tigers
Referee: Jeremy Rozier (Fra)
ARs: Pierre Brousset (Fra) & Benjamin Hernandez (Fra)
TMO: Denis Grenouillet (Fra)

Munster Rugby v Castres Olympique
Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng)
ARs: Hollie Davidson (Sco) & Sam Grove‑White (Sco)
TMO: David Rose (Eng)

Stade Toulousain v Sale Sharks
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ire)
ARs: Peter Martin (Ire) & Padraic Reidy (Ire)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ire)

Gloucester Rugby v RC Toulon
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ire)
ARs: Andrew Cole (Ire) & Keane Davison (Ire)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ire)

Bristol Bears v Union Bordeaux Bègles
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
ARs: Shota Tevadze (Geo) & Andrew Cole (Ire)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)

Northampton Saints v Scarlets
Referee: Kevin Bralley (Fra)
ARs: Vincent Blasco‑Baque (Fra) & Flavien Hourquet (Fra)
TMO: Julien Casteignede (Fra)

Stade Rochelais v Harlequins
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
ARs: Clara Munarini (Ita) & Alberto Favaro (Ita)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)

Glasgow Warriors v Saracens
Referee: Luc Ramos (Fra)
ARs: Thomas Charabas (Fra) & Jonathan Gasnier (Fra)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)

EPCR Challenge Cup — Round 4

Dragons RFC v Newcastle Red Bulls
Referee: Christopher Allison (SA)
ARs: Morne Ferreira (SA) & Griffin Colby (SA)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)

Ulster Rugby v Stade Français Paris
Referee: Adam Leal (Eng)
ARs: Hamish Smales (Eng) & Wayne Falla (Eng)
TMO: Dan Jones (Eng)

Black Lion v Zebre Parma
Referee: Evan Urruzmendi (Fra)
ARs: Andrei Gheorge (ROM) & Florin Bonea (ROM)
TMO: Herve Lasausa (Fra)

USA Perpignan v Lions
Referee: Filippo Russo (Ita)
ARs: Cosimo Danilo Parisi (Ita) & Luigi Parcianello (Ita)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Ita)

Ospreys v Montpellier Hérault Rugby
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Ita)
ARs: Franco Rosella (Ita) & Luca Bisetto (Ita)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (Ita)

Connacht Rugby v US Montauban
Referee: Ben Connor (Wal)
ARs: Adam Jones (Wal) & Gareth Newman (Wal)
TMO: Keith David (Wal)

Exeter Chiefs v Cardiff Rugby
Referee: Griffin Colby (SA)
ARs: Morne Ferreira (SA) & Christopher Allison (SA)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)

Lyon Olympique Universitaire Rugby v Benetton Rugby
Referee: Sara Cox (Eng)
ARs: Hamish Grant (Eng) & Amber Stamp‑Dunstan (Wal)
TMO: Dean Richards (Eng)

Racing 92 v Toyota Cheetahs
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wal)
ARs: Craig Evans (Wal) & Gareth Newman (Wal)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wal)

Rugby Europe Super Cup

Lusitanos v Brussels Devils
Referee: Alex Ionescu (Rom)
ARs: Lukasz Jasinski (Pol) & Andrei Ballok (Rom)

Castilla y Leon Iberians v Delta
Referee: Diogo Miranda (Por)
ARs: Diogo Inacio (Por) & Marco Minelli (Por)

Celtic Challenge – Round 4

Gwalia Lightning v Edinburgh Rugby
Referee: Josh Sealy
ARs: Max Clements & Dan Smith

Wolfhounds v Brython Thunder
Referee: Rob McGreer
ARs: Peter McClure & Chris Cahoon

Clovers v Glasgow Warriors
Referee: Ross Whitfield
ARs: Chris Elliott & Andrew Munce

Japan: League One: Division 1

BlueRevs v Dynaboars
Referee: Takehito Namekawa
ARs: Kohei Yoshino & Shuhei Hamada
TMO: Yosuke Kimura
FPRO: Teruki Inanishi

Eagles v Wildknights
Referee: Koki Yamauchi
ARs: Ryosuke Yamatani & Ryotaro Shindo
TMO: Daiki Kako
FPRO: Takeshi Matsumoto

D-Rocks v Bravelupus
Referee: Ibuki Tetsuta
ARs: Atsushi Yamamoto & Hibiki Ikeda
TMO: Minoru Fuji
FPRO: Takuya Arai

Spears v Verblitz
Referee: Masaki Kondo
ARs: Mihetitsu Shimizu & Shinji Iida
TMO: Tomohiro Koyoma
FPRO: Yuichi Machida

Steelers v Blackrams
Referee: Toshimasa Sekiya
ARs: Yuma Higashimura & Masamichi Tateka
TMO: Mayumi Takahashi
FPRO: Kazuo Iechika

Sungoliath v Heat
Referee: Ketsuki Furuse
ARs: Yusaku Murata & Takahiro Watanabe
TMO: Tasuku Kawahara
FPRO: Kazuhito Taniguchi

Division 2

Shuttles v Seawaves
Referee: Motonori Mizutani
ARs: Ryotaro Hayashi & Tomohiro Abe
TMO: Nobutsugu Oda
FPRO: Takahiro Kano

Red Hurricanes v Liners
Referee: Tetsuya Hirakawa
ARs: Rikito Nobuhara & Yosuke Matsui
TMO: Katsuhiko Ishii
FPRO: Ano Kuwai

Reddolphins v Bluesharks
Referee: Teruki Inanishi
ARs: Sota Ouchi & Taiga Hirose
TMO: Tomohiro Koyama
FPRO: Takeshi Matsumoto

Division 3

Watergush v Rugguts
Referee: Sota Ouchi
ARs: Junichiro Yotsui & Taiga Hirose
TMO: Tomohiro Koyama
FPRO: Takeshi Matsumoto

Redregulions v Lerio
Referee: Rikito Nobuhara
ARs: Shuhei Hamada & Junichiro Yotsui

France: ProD2 – round 17

USON Nevers v Provence Rugby
Referee: Adrien Marbot
ARs: Hugo Dutreuilh & Ghyslain Elias
TMO: Christophe Berdos

AS Béziers Hérault v Stade Aurillacois
Referee: Anthony Lac
ARs: Remi Aiguebonne & Thierry Mallet
TMO: Patrick Dellac

Biarritz Olympique PB v Soyaux-Angoulême XV
Referee: Pierre Baptiste Nuchy
ARs: Sylvain Jaymes & Hugues Samora
TMO: Patrick Pechambert

Colomiers Rugby v Oyonnax Rugby
Referee: Stephane Coulon
ARs: Thomas Monteux & Yannick Vals
TMO: Cedric Marchat

Stade Montois Rugby v Valence Romans
Referee: Mathieu Noirot
ARs: Florian Capelle & Richard Duhau
TMO: Laurent Sclafer

US Carcassonnaise v US Dax
Referee: Vivien Praderie
ARs: Wissam Baamara & Pierre Olivier Julien
TMO: Akim Hadj Bachir

FC Grenoble Rugby v SU Agen
Referee: Damien Dauvissat
ARs: Regis Guatelli & Mickael Simon
TMO: Jean Luc Rebollal

RC Vannes v CA Brive
Referee: Pierre Bru
ARs: Ludovic Carrillo & Danny Groizeleau
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure

Italy: Serie A Elite Machile (men’s)

Rugby Rovigo Delta v Biella Rugby Club
Referee: Lorenzo Negro
ARs: Dante D’Elia & Ferdinando Cusano
TMO: Vincenzo Schipani

Rugby Colorno 1975 v Rugby Lyons
Referee: Francesco Meschini
ARs: Matteo Angelo Locatelli & Giona Righetti
TMO: Filippo Bertelli

Rugby Viadana 1970 v G.S. Fiamme Oro Rugby Roma
Referee: Dario Merli
ARs: Riccardo Bonato & Antonio Luzza
TMO: Luca Trentin

Valorugby Emilia v Rugby Petrarca
Referee: Manuel Bottino
ARs: Daniele Pompa & Federico Boraso
TMO: Giuseppe Vivarini

Rugby Vicenza 2025 v Mogliano Veneto Rugby
Referee: TBC
ARs: Lorenzo Pedezzi & Francesco Pier’Antoni &
TMO: Alex Frasson

Italy: Serie A Elite Femminile (Women’s)

CUS Milano Rugby v Villorba Rugby
Referee: Naima Annoni
ARs: Nelu Daniel Romascu & TBC

Unione Rugby Capitolina v Rugby Colorno Soc. Coop. Sport. Dil.
Referee: Ludovico Grosso
ARs: Fabio Paolucci & TBC

IVECO CUS Torino v Valsugana Rugby Padova
Referee: Anna Catagini
ARs: Valerio Ciaiolo & Luca Pelassa

Benetton Rugby Treviso v Neapolis R. Fem. T. Campania Felix
Referee: Marco Sanatelli
ARs: Giovanni Garro & Mauro Marcuglia

Spain: Division de honor (Men’s) – round 8

Huesitos La Vila Rugby Club v DH VRAC Quesos Entrepinares
Referee: Jose Luis Murillo Garcia-Gil

AMPO Ordizia v Cajasol Real Ciencias Sevilla
Referee: Alfonso Mirat Servan
ARs: Jorge Redondo Bermudez & Carlos Lopez Benezet

Inexo El Salvador v Recoletas Burgos–Caja Rural
Referee: Ignacio Muñoz Martin

CR Liceo Frances v Unio Esportiva Santboiana
Referee: Eki Fanlo Antzin

Barça Rugby v Silicius Alcobendas Rugby
Referee: Jenny Lee

Spain: Liga Iberdrola (Women’s)

Silicius Rugby Majadahonda v Colina Clinic El Salvador
Referee: Jorge Saez Dominguez

Rialta CRAT Coruña v Olimpico de Pozuelo CR
Referee: Roger Parera Villacampa

Complutense Cisneros v Simon Verde Sport Cocos Sevilla
Referee: Federico Javier Japas

Club de Rugby Sant Cugat v Getxo Rugby
Referee: Eduard Martí Martín Serralta

Ireland: Energia Women’s AIL Jnr Cup Final

MU Barnhall v Enniskillen (at Dundalk RFC)
Referee: Siobhán Daly
ARs: Alana Kerr & Katie Jane Wickham

Hong Kong China: Nan Fung Group AIRSIDE Men’s Premiership

HKFC Natixis Club v Kroll USRC Tigers
Referee: Matt Rodden (97th Prem Appointment)
ARs: Morgan White & Thomas Ngan

HKU Sandy Bay v Kowloon Rugby Club
Referee: Francesco Cammisa (27th Prem Appointment)
ARs: Shane Barr & Allen Judge

Societe Generale Valley v MND Hong Kong Scottish
Referee: Morgan White (37th Prem Appointment)
ARs: Sam Brown & Nico Fox

Hong Kong China: Nan Fung Group AIRSIDE Women’s Premiership

Causeway Sandy Bay v Kowloon Rugby Women
Referee: Sunny Lee (24th WPrem Appointment)
ARs: Jan Tang & Allen Judge

USRC Tigers Women v HKFC Natixis Ice
Referee: Patrick Kwok (37th WPrem Appointment)
ARs: Steven Yuen & Evans Lam

Gai Wu Falcons v Societe Generale Valley
Referee: Francesco Cammisa (32nd WPrem Appointment)
ARs: Jackie Ho & Billy Chan

Scotland: Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership

Melrose Rugby v Selkirk
Referee: Michael Todd
ARs: Fergus Hollins & Gordon Galashan

GHA v Heriot’s Rugby
Referee: Daniel Evans
ARs: David Young & Alistair Watt

Hawick v Ayr
Referee: Rob McDowell
ARs: Ciaran Stark & Kevin McGhee

Kelso v Glasgow Hawks
Referee: Samuel O’Neil
ARs: Charles Samson & Gordon Galashan

Watsonians v Currie Chieftains
Referee: Ian Kenny
ARs: John Smith & David Changleng