- W6N debuts for Jess Ling (Aus) and Zoe Naude (SA)
- Barrett-Theron reaches 50
- Maternity leave returns for Amber McLachlan (Aus) and Julianne Zussman (Can)
- Match officials for a stand alone Walleroos v Fijiana test and the U21 Women’s Six Nations also announced
- Lauren Jenner retirement confirmed a she moves into IRMO General Manager role
- Seven assistant referees & nine TMO/FPROs to make tournament debuts
There’s a hearty mix of familiar and new names in the freshly-published batch of referee appointments for the women’s game in 2026. With Hollie Davidson focussing on men’s, Sara Cox and Lauren Jenner retiring, and Kat Roche operating in 7s series, Jess Ling (pic middle) and Zoe Naude (pic on left) step into those Women’s Six Nations spaces.
Aimee Barrett-Theron (pictured with Naude) will become the second female to referee 50 tests with the Guinness Women’s Six Nations opener in France. Fellow RWC semi-finalist referee Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZ) will referee the Australia v Fiji in March. Aurélie Groizeleau (Fra) joins Barrett-Theron for both W6N and PAC4 comps.
The 15-match Women’s Six Nations has eight officials representing five nations, boasting a total of 192 tests between them. Twelve of those involved in the RWC 2025 match official panel are again involved this year.
The Pacific Four Series 2026, which runs from 11-25 April see fourteen officials involved in matches across the United States and Australia. They include Amber McLachlan (Aus – pictured on right) and Julianne Zussman (Can) who both return to the international refereeing scene after maternity leave.
New blood across AR, TMO & FRPO Panels
Four assistant referees will make their Women’s Six Nations debuts in Emily Hope (England), Bérénice Loubet (France), Rebecca Piddlesden (England) and Beatrice Smussi (Italy).
Assistant referees Emma Gallagher (Canada), Alexis Saari (USA) and Hibiki Ikeda (Japan), along with TMOs Cam Russell (Canada) and Derek Summers (USA), will make their Pacific Four Series debuts in 2026.
Estelle Whaiapu (New Zealand), Graham Cooper (Australia), Stefano Penne (Italy), Aled Griffiths (Wales), Paulo Duarte (Portugal) and Julien Castaignède (France) will act as a Television Match Official for the first time in the tournament, as will Foul Play Review Officers Finlay Brown (Scotland), Jenny Davies (Wales) and Paul Haycock (Ireland).
u21 Women’s Six Nations development
World Rugby have also appointed officials for the inaugural U21 Women’s Six Nations Series, which runs from 18 April to 10 May. The nine matches will be refereed by officials on World Rugby’s Talent ID programme in Alexandra Férre (France), Beatrice Smussi (Italy), Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales), Bérénice Loubet (France), Giana Viljoen (South Africa), Emma Gallagher (Canada) and Emily Hope (England).
Amy Perrett, World Rugby Women’s Pathway Development Coach, added: “We are grateful for the opportunity to appoint referees to the inaugural U21 Women’s Six Nations Series. This tournament will play a significant role in solidifying and enhancing the women’s match official pathway as we look to develop more women into the elite space.”
Start of a journey to 2029
Chair of the Women’s Emirates World Rugby Match Officials Selection Committee Su Carty said: “This selection marks the start of an important journey for the Emirates World Rugby Match Officials as we build towards Women’s Rugby World Cup Australia 2029. The Guinness Women’s Six Nations, Pacific Four Series, and the WXV Global Series later this year represent exciting opportunities for a hugely motivated team. Our focus, as always, is to be well prepared, aligned, and consistent in our approach while playing our role in creating the space and opportunity for teams to showcase their abilities on the world stage. Congratulations to Aimee on reaching her 50th match and to all match officials selected.”
Women’s High Performance Referee Manager Alhambra Nievas said, “We are excited to kick-off a new four-year cycle with a balance of senior leaders and upcoming young talent coming through, many of whom will benefit from the new opportunity in the pathway of the U21 Women’s Six Nations Series or in other domestic competitions around the world. I would also like to congratulate Aimee Barrett-Theron on reaching the milestone of 50 tests as a referee.”
Guinness Women’s Six Nations 2026
Round 1 – 11 April
France v Italy (in Grenoble)
Referee: Aimee Barrett‑Theron (SA)
ARs: Zoe Naude (SA) & Emily Hope (Eng)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA)
FPRO: Finlay Brown (Sco)
England v Ireland (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)
Referee: Maggie Cogger‑Orr (NZ)
ARs: Amber Stamp‑Dunstan (Wal) & Berenice Loubet (Fra)
TMO: Estelle Whaiapu (NZ)
FPRO: Aled Griffiths (Wal)
Wales v Scotland (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (Aus)
ARs: Precious Pazani (Zim) & Alexandra Ferre (Fra)
TMO: Graham Cooper (Aus)
FPRO: Paulo Duarte (Por)
Round 2 – Saturday 18 April 2026
Scotland v England (Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
Referee: Zoe Naude (SA)
ARs: Clara Munarini (Ita) & Berenice Loubet (Fra)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA)
FPRO: Stefano Penne (Ita)
Wales v France (Cardiff Arms Park)
Referee: Maggie Cogger‑Orr (NZ)
ARs: Precious Pazani (Zim) & Emily Hope (Eng)
TMO: Estelle Whaiapu (NZ)
FPRO: Dan Jones (Wal)
Ireland v Italy (Dexcom Stadium, Galway)
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (Aus)
ARs: Natarsha Ganley (NZ) & Rebecca Piddlesten (Eng)
TMO: Graham Cooper (Aus)
FPRO: Finlay Brown (Sco)
Round 3 – Saturday 25 April 2026
England v Wales (Ashton Gate, Bristol)
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (Aus)
ARs: Jess Ling (Aus) & Beatrice Smussi (Ita)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ire)
FPRO: Paul Haycock (Ire)
Italy v Scotland (Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma)
Referee: Natarsha Ganley (NZ)
ARs: Zoe Naude (SA) & Emily Hope (Eng)
TMO: Dan Jones (Eng)
FPRO: Jenny Davies (Wal)
France v Ireland (Stade Marcel‑Michelin, Clermont‑Ferrand)
Referee: Clara Munarini (Ita)
ARs: Amber Stamp‑Dunstan (Wal) & Rebecca Piddlesten (Eng)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Ita)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
Round 4 – Saturday 9 May 2026
Italy v England (Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma)
Referee: Jess Ling (Aus)
ARs: Natarsha Ganley (NZ) & Berenice Loubet (Fra)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ire)
FPRO: Julien Castaignede (Fra)
Scotland v France (Hive Stadium, Edinburgh)
Referee: Aimee Barrett‑Theron (SA)
ARs: Amber Stamp‑Dunstan (Wal) & Maria Latos (Ger)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wal)
FPRO: Jenny Davies (Wal)
Ireland v Wales (Affidea Stadium, Belfast)
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (Fra)
ARs: Alexandra Ferre (Fra) & Beatrice Smussi (Ita)
TMO: Paulo Duarte (Por)
FPRO: Dan Jones (Eng)
Round 5 – Saturday 17 May 2026
Wales v Italy (Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff)
Referee: Natarsha Ganley (NZ)
ARs: Emily Hope (Eng) & Rebecca Piddlesten (Eng)
TMO: Dan Jones (Eng)
FPRO: Paul Haycock (Ire)
Ireland v Scotland (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (Fra)
ARs: Berenice Loubet (Fra) & Alexandra Ferre (Fra)
TMO: Julien Castaignede (Fra)
FPRO: Paulo Duarte (Por)
France v England (Stade Atlantique, Bordeaux)
Referee: Clara Munarini (Ita)
ARs: Aimee Barrett‑Theron (SA) & Amber Stamp‑Dunstan (Wal)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
FPRO: Leo Colgan (Ire)
Under 21 Women’s Six Nations Series
All ARs appointed by home union
18 April 2026
Scotland v England (Hive Stadium, Edinburgh)
Referee: Alexandra Ferre (Fra)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wal)
Wales v France (Cardiff Arms Park
Referee: Beatrice Smussi (Ita)
TMO: Paul Haycock (Ire)
Ireland v Italy (Dexcom Stadium, Galway)
Referee: Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wal)
TMO: Jenny Davies (Wal)
2nd May 2026
England v Ireland (Butts Park Arena, Coventry)
Referee: Berenice Loubet (Fra)
TMO: Finlay Brown (Sco)
France v Scotland (in Tarbes)
Referee: Giana Viljoen (SA)
TMO: Jenny Davies (Wal)
Italy v Wales (Piacenza)
Referee: Emma Gallagher (Can)
TMO: Paul Haycock (Ire)
10 May 2026
Scotland v Italy (Hive Stadium, Edinburgh)
Referee: Emily Hope (RFU)
TMO: Jenny Davies (Wal)
Wales v Ireland (Caerphilly)
Referee: Giana Viljoen (SA)
TMO: Finlay Brown (Sco)
England v France (Bedford)
Referee: Emma Gallagher (Can)
TMO: Paul Haycock (Ire)
Women’s international – 27 March 2026
Australia v Fiji (in Canberra)
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZ)
ARs: Chloe Sampson (NZ) & Erin Doherty (NZ)
TMO: Rachel Horton (Aus)
FPRO: TBC
PACIFIC FOUR 2026
11 April 2026
USA v New Zealand (Sacramento, USA)
Referee: Julianne Zussman (Can)
ARs: Emma Gallagher (Can) & Kristine Lovatt (Can)
TMO: Cam Russell (Can)
FPRO: Derek Summers (USA)
Canada v Australia (in Sacramento, USA)
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (Fra)
ARs: Amelia Luciano (USA) & Alexis Saari (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
FPRO: Cam Russell (Can)
17 April 2026
Canada v New Zealand (in Kansas, USA)
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SA)
ARs: Amelia Luciano (USA) & Lindsey Oliver (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
FPRO: Cam Russell (Can)
USA v Australia (in Kansas, USA)
Referee: Julianne Zussman (Can)
ARs: Emma Gallagher (Can) & Kristine Lovatt (Can)
TMO: Cam Russell (Can)
FPRO: Derek Summers (USA)
24 & 25 April 2026
USA v Canada (in Chicago, USA)
Referee: Amber McLaughlan (Aus)
ARs: Amelia Luciano (USA) & Emma Gallagher (Can)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA)
FPRO: Derek Summers (USA)
Australia v New Zealand (Brisbane, Australia)
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (Fra)
ARs: Chloe Sampson (NZ) & Hibiki Ikeda (Jpn)
TMO: Rachel Horton (Aus)
FPRO: Graham Cooper (Aus)
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