A huge week in Johannesburg as the third test of the South Africa v New Zealand series takes place, as aprt of a double header. After illness 10 days ago, Nika Amashukeli (pictured top left) returns to the lineup to referee the match which is finely balanced at one test each. There’s a handful of other internationals with James Doleman refereeing the third Argentina v Australia tie. On the women’s side, Ella Goldsmith (bottom right) is in Japan for their match with the Fijiana and Zoe Naude takes the other part of the double header in Jo’burgwhere the BoksWomen play teh Black Ferns.
On the domestic scene, the north is kicking back into action for a new season. There’s the first round of the Prem Cup in England (and a bunch of UK cross broder friendlies), and the Top14 returns to join the ProD2 in France. We also have new seasons for referees in Germany, the Netherlands and Scotland as well. Back down south, it’s the semi finals of the Currie Cup in South Africa – Griffin Colby (bottom left) has the Griquas/Lions match with Cheetahs v Pumas being refereed by Christopher Allison.
In New Zealand, there’s another weekend of NPC, Heartlands and Farah Palmer Cup action. Former elite player, Hayley Hutana is doing good things with a whistle now and takes charge or the FPC Championship match where Tasman host Hawkes Bay. Hayley was one of the 2025-27 Scholarship recipients which has seen a number of top level players switch into refereeing. Chloe Sampson is another one who has a FPC Championship game this weekend too.
Go well everyone
Keith
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry – 3rd Test
South Africa v New Zealand (in Johannesburg)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
ARs: Angus Gardner (Aus) & Christophe Ridley (Eng)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
FPRO: Brett Cronan (Aus)
Internationals
Japan v Canada (in Niigata)
Referee: Morgan White (HKC)
ARs: Jordan Way (Aus) & Francesco Cammisa (HKC)
TMO: Matt Rodden (HKC)
Argentina v Australia (in Jujuy)
Referee: James Doleman (NZ)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ) & Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZ)
FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZ)
Japan Women v Fijiana (in Fukuoka)
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (Aus)
ARs: Lee Chui Yan Sunny (HKC) & Hibiki Ikeda (Jpn)
WomenBoks v New Zealand Black Ferns (in Johannesburg)
Referee: Zoe Naude (SA)
ARs: Giana Viljoen (SA) & Angie Bezuidenhout (SA)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA)
France: Top 14 – Round 1
Aviron Bayonnais v RC Toulon
Referee: Benoit Rousselet
ARs: Benoit Lapassade & Adrien Marbot
TMO: Patrick Dellac
Montpellier Hérault Rugby v Section Paloise
Referee: Jeremy Rozier
ARs: Christophe Bultet & Jonathan Gasnier
TMO: Jean Lespes
Castres Olympique v RC Vannes
Referee: Julien Caulier
ARs: Thomas Chereque & Stephane Coulon
TMO: Cyril Lafon
LOU Rugby v ASM Clermont
Referee: Tual Trainini
ARs: Vincent Blasco Baque & Stephane Crapoix
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
Stade Français Paris v USA Perpignan
Referee: Kevin Bralley
ARs: Cedric Hueso & Anthony Lac
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
Union Bordeaux-Bègles v Racing 92
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
ARs: Flavien Hourquet & Vivien Praderie
TMO: Jean Luc Rebollal
Stade Rochelais v Stade Toulousain
Referee: Luc Ramos
ARs: Vincent Chouquet & Thibault Santamaria
TMO: Julien Castaignede
France: Pro D2 – Round 2
Colomiers Rugby v Provence Rugby
Referee: Evan Urruzmendi
ARs: Stephane Coulon & Abdjallil El Khaoulani
TMO: Laurent Sclafer
US Montauban v FC Grenoble Rugby
Referee: Benjamin Hernandez
ARs: Jonathan Gasnier & Danny Groizeleau
TMO: Herve Lasausa Lespy Labaylette
Nissa Rugby v AS Béziers Hérault
Referee: Ludovic Carrillo
ARs: Wissam Baamara & Mickael Simon
TMO: Mathieu Noirot
Valence Romans v Soyaux-Angoulême XV
Referee: Pierre Baptiste Nuchy
ARs: Regis Guatelli & Aurelien Laloo
TMO: Patrick Pechambert
RC Narbonnais v USON Nevers
Referee: Aurelie Groizeleau
ARs: Pierre Olivier Julien & Quentin Sfez
TMO: Stephane Boyer
Stade Aurillacois v US Dax
Referee: Hugo Dutreuilh
ARs: Thomas Joly & Berenice Loubet
TMO: Mourad Zitouni
Oyonnax Rugby v Biarritz Olympique PB
Referee: Jonathan Dufort
ARs: Vincent Blasco Baque & Ghyslain Elias
TMO: Akim Hadj Bachir
SU Agen v CA Brive
Referee: Pierre Bru
ARs: Vivien Praderie & Yannick Vals
TMO: Christophe Berdos
New Zealand: Hilux National Provincial Championship round 6
Taranaki v Auckland
Referee: Todd Petrie
ARs: Paul Williams & Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Cam Stone
Hawke’s Bay v Otago
Referee: Ben Woolerton
ARs: Stu Catley & David Clarkson
TMO: Mark Johnson
Bay of Plenty v Manawatu
Referee: Mike Winter
ARs: Sean Curragh & Tiana Anderson
TMO: Estelle Whaiapu
Tasman v Wellington
Referee: Jackson Henshaw
ARs: Damon Smith & Dave Woodhouse
TMO: Aidan Barnett
Waikato v Canterbury
Referee: Marcus Playle
ARs: Ben Woolerton & Ben Brownlie
TMO: Aaron Paterson
Counties Manukau v Southland
Referee: Warwick Lahmert
ARs: Todd Petrie & Antony Petrie
TMO: John Wright
North Harbour v Northland
Referee: Angus Mabey
ARs: Scott McKenzie & Caleb Greaves
TMO: Kyle Lagerwall
NZ: Hilux Heartland Championship round 4
Horowhenua Kapiti v Whanganui
Referee: Matt Thomas
ARs: Jono Bredin & Sam Taylor
King Country v South Canterbury
Referee: Laim Sargent
ARs: Digger Balme & Blair Bacon
Mid Canterbury v Buller
Referee: Erin Doherty
ARs: Simon Bennett & Chris Paul
Poverty Bay v North Otago
Referee: Sam Fellows
Thames Valley v Wairarapa Bush
Referee: Scott McKenzie
West Coast v East Coast
Referee: William Todd
ARs: Chris O’Malley & Steven Laird
NZ: Hilux Farah Palmer Cup
Premiership
Waikato v Auckland
Referee: Chloe Sampson
ARs: Kaitlin Bates & Jonathan Crosbie
Bay of Plenty v Canterbury
Referee: Holly McKenzie
ARs: Peter Morgan & Elias Owen
Counties Manukau v Manawatu
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr
ARs: Brian Wayne & Azania Watene
Championship
Wellington v North Harbour
Referee: Charlie Harris
ARs: Ethan Jefferson & Ollie Michie
Northland v Otago
Referee: Ben McLauchlan
Tasman v Hawkes Bay
Referee: Hayley Hutana
ARs: Aidan Barnett & Dave Woodhouse
Scotland: Arnold Clark Premiership (Women’s) – Round 1
Cartha Queens Park WRFC v Stirling County WRFC
Referee: Scott McCall
ARs: Niamh Hay & Georgina Adams
Watsonians WRFC v Garioch WRFC
Referee: Josiah Yuen
ARs: George Downie & Murdo Wilson
Heriots Rugby Women v Biggar WRFC
Referee: Alex Obreja
ARs: Walter Gaffney & Lee Murru
Corstorphine Cougars WRFC v Hillhead Jordanhill WRFC
Referee: Allana McLean
ARs: John Cramb & Ronan Machugh
Scotland: Arnold Clark Premiership (Men’s) – round 1
Melrose Rugby v Glasgow Hawks
Referee: Samuel O’Neil-Thompson
ARs: Rebecca Rees & Charles Samson
Hawick v Kelso
Referee: Daniel Evans
ARs: Willie Anderson & David Changleng
Edinburgh Academical v Ayr
Referee: Ruairidh Campbell
ARs: Sean Mallon & Gordon Galashan
Watsonians v GHA
Referee: David Young
ARs: Michael Todd & Bob Nevins
Currie Chieftains v Heriot’s Rugby Men
Referee: Rob McDowell
ARs: Jake Garrod & Kevin McGhee
South Africa: Carling Currie Cup Premier Division – Semi-Finals
Suzuki Griquas v Fidelity ADT Lions
Referee: Griffin Colby
ARs: Stephan Geldenhuys & Dylen November
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen
Toyota Cheetahs v Airlink Pumas
Referee: Christopher Allison
ARs: Hanru van Rooyen & Jonathan Lottering
TMO: Marius Jonker
UK Friendlies
Edinburgh v Ulster
Referee: Jonny Mackenzie
ARs: Samuel O’Neil-Thompson & David Young
Coventry v Ospreys
Referee: Ian Tempest
ARs: Neil Chivers & Kieron Henry
Chinnor v Leicester Tigers
Referee: Andrew Jackson
ARs: Jonathan Healy & Simon Adams
Newcastle Redbulls v Rotherham Titans
Referee: Harry Walbaum
ARs: John Meredith & Gregg Dawson
Newcastle Redbulls v Glasgow Warriors
Referee: Hamish Smales
ARs: Mike Hudson & James Pidding
Exeter Chiefs v Scarlets
Referee: Jamie Parr
ARs: Andy Wigley & James Clarke
Doncaster Knights v Nottingham Rugby
Referee: Ben Simpson
ARs: Henry Lowis & Ryan Collier
Worcester Warriors v Cardiff RFC
Referee: Joe James
ARs: Kieron Henry & Emmerson Wood
Leicester Tigers Women v Lichfield Women
Referee: Rosie Procter
ARs: Darryl Chapman & Jenny Burrows
Bristol Bears v Gloucester Rugby
Referee: Matt Sharpe
ARs: TBC
England: Prem Rugby Cup
Pool A: Bristol Bears v Gloucester Rugby
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
ARs: Alex Thomas & Gareth Holsgrove
Pool A: Sale Sharks v Bath Rugby
Referee: Sara Cox
ARs: Hamish Grant & Jamie Leahy
Pool B: Saracens v Northampton Saints
Referee: Henry Pearson
ARs: Andrew Jackson & Neil Chivers
Pool B: Harlequins v Leicester Tigers
Referee: Karl Dickson
ARs: Benjamin Wood & Mike Woods
Netherlands: Ereklasse (Men’s) – round 1
RC The Dukes v RFC Oisterwijk Oysters
Referee: Conrad Riepe
RC Eemland v RC Hoek van Holland
Referee: Koen Maaijen
RC ‘t Gooi v ASCRUM
Referee: Wissem Letaif
RFC Haarlem v Haagsche RC
Referee: Katherine Ritchie
AAC v RC DIOK
Referee: Lars Looten
Rotterdamse RC v Castricum RC
Referee: Bram Oudman
Germany: Bundesliga (Men’s) – round 1
München RFC v RC Luxembourg
Referee: Marius Bollian
ARs: Jared Grellet & Olivian Gilea
Heidelberger RK 1872 v SC Frankfurt 1880
Referee: Maria Latos
ARs: Costinel Costin Croitoru & Mostafa Eftekhari
Berliner RC v Hannover 78
Referee: Jonas Hinz
ARs: Vladyslav Ilnytskyi & Frederic Lebouc
Germania List v TSV Handschuhsheim
Referee: Nils Radtke
ARs: Matthew Duff & Daniel Langer
RGH v SC Neuenheim
Referee: Benedikt Niklas
ARs: Jan Retzlaff & Tom Walther
Finland: Championships
Womens Championship
Tampere Rugby Club v Helsinki Rugby Club
Referee: Janne Lumme
ARs: Timo Takala & TBC
WaLi vs Jyväskylä Rugby Club
Referee: Quentin Gauthier
ARs: Patrick McSteen & Jed Patton
Men’s Championship
Old Town Shamrocks v Helsinki Rugby Club
Referee: Thibaut Reuchet
ARs: George Mossford & Robin Edgar
Warriors Rugby Club v Jyväskylä Rugby Club
Referee: Patrick McSteen
ARs: Jed Patton & Quentin Gauthier
Be the first to comment