15-18 Oct: WXV, Bledisloe, EPCR, Super Cup and other match official appointments

There’s some notable referee milestones this weekend as there’s a shift in competitions once again. WXV restarts after a few weeks off with the hemispheres switching hosting duties. Aurélie Groizeleau (pictured top left) becomes the fourth female referee to oversee 50 test matches, as she referees in Toronto as Canada host the Red Roses. In Sydney, Maggie Cogger-Orr (top right) becomes NZ’s most capped female test referee, as she refs test match #33. Also in Sydney, it’s Bledisloe 2 where the team of 3 rotate and Luke Pearce (bottom left) assumes the lead role. Australia will be looking to steal back the cup from New Zealand.

Speaking of NZ, it’s the finals of the domestic Heartlands Championship with Caleb Neilson (bottom right) refereeing the Meads Cup Final where Mid Canterbury play King Country. Ben O’Keeffe and Paul Williams will ref the NPC semi finals. Up the Oceania region, it’s a new season of Hong Kong China’s men’s and women’s premierships.

In Europe, it’s the opening round of the Investec Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup. It’s earlier this year Last year’s winners, Bordeaux Bègles kick things off in Gloucester with Gianluca Gnecchi in charge. There’s also the Rugby Europe Super Cup as well. There’s a ton of domestic league action around Europe – all the referee appointments from Scotland, Ireland, Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Italy are below. Congrats to Mary Pringle & Murray Oliver who make their Men’s Prem debuts in Scotland.

Enjoy your weekend
Keith

Women’s internationals: WXV Global Series

Canada v England (in Toronto)
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (Fra)
ARs: Luke Rogan (USA) & Amelia Luciano (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
FPRO: Cam Russell (Can)

New Zealand v France (in Hamilton)
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (Aus)
ARs: Amber McLachlan (Aus) & Jess Ling (Aus)
TMO: Rachel Horton (Aus)
FPRO: Damon Murphy (Aus)

Australia v Scotland (in Sydney)
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZ)
ARs: Chloe Sampson (NZ) & Erin Doherty (NZ)
TMO: Estelle Whaiapu (NZ)
FPRO: Aaron Paterson (NZ)

USA v Italy (in Nashville)
Referee: Holly Wood (Eng)
ARs: Emma Gallagher (Can) & Lindsey Oliver (USA)
TMO: Cam Russell (Can)
FPRO: Derek Summers (USA)

Men’s international: Bledisloe Cup

Australia v New Zealand
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
ARs: Andrew Brace (Ire) & Damian Schneider (Arg)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (Rsa)
FPRO: Mike Adamson (Sco)

Investec Champions Cup – Round 1

Gloucester Rugby v Union Bordeaux Bègles
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
ARs: Franco Rosella (Ita) & Dario Merli (Ita)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
Citing Commissioner: Philippe Lenne (Bel)

Sale Sharks v Glasgow Warriors
Referee: Craig Evans (Wal)
ARs: Gareth Newman (Wal) & Lucas Yendle (Wal)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)
Citing Commissioner: Wejdane Limame (Fra)

Vodacom Bulls v Stade Français Paris
Referee: Christophe Ridley (Eng)
ARs: George Selwood (Eng) & Jamie Parr (Eng)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wal)
Citing Commissioner: Palemia Field (Fin)

ASM Clermont Auvergne v Leinster Rugby
Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng)
ARs: Hamish Smales (Eng) & Jon Healy (Eng)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (Eng)
Citing Commissioner: Deker Govender (RSA)

DHL Stormers v Bristol Bears
Referee: Kevin Bralley (Fra)
ARs: Vincent Blasco-Baque (Fra) & Flavien Hourquet (Fra)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
Citing Commissioner: Beth Dickens (Sco)

Connacht Rugby v Saracens
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
ARs: Luc Ramos (Fra) & Julien Caulier (Fra)
TMO: Tual Trainini (Fra)
Citing Commissioner: Sebastien Lorant-Raze (Fra)

Stade Rochelais v Lions
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Sco)
ARs: Jonny MacKenzie (Sco) & Rob McDowell (Sco)
TMO: David Sutherland (Sco)
Citing Commissioner: Chris Catling (Eng)

Munster Rugby v Racing 92
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
ARs: Joe James (Eng) & Richard Gordon (Eng)
TMO: Dean Richards (Eng)
Citing Commissioner: John Byett (Eng)

Bath Rugby v Montpellier Hérault Rugby
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
ARs: Filippo Russo (Ita) & Alberto Favaro (Ita)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
Citing Commissioner: Ed Kenny (Ire)

Section Paloise v Leicester Tigers
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ire)
ARs: Robbie Jenkinson (Ire) & Andrew Cole (Ire)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ire)
Citing Commissioner: Ciaran Scally (Ire)

Stade Toulousain v Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Sco)
ARs: Rob McDowell (Sco) & Finlay Brown (Sco)
TMO: David Sutherland (Sco)
Citing Commissioner: Peter Fegurson (Ire)

Northampton Saints v Cardiff Rugby
Referee: Jeremy Rozier (Fra)
ARs: Thomas Charabas (Fra) & Cyril Boulay (Fra)
TMO: Julien Castaignede (Fra)
Citing Commissioner: Eugene Ryan (Ire)

EPCR Challenge Cup 2026/27 – Round 1

Dragons RFC v USAP
Referee: Hanru Van Rooyen (RSA)
ARs: Alex Thomas (Eng) & Hamish Grant (Eng)
TMO: David Rose (Eng)
Citing Commissioner: Charles Sansom (Sco)

Edinburgh Rugby v RC Toulon
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wal)
ARs: Carwyn Sion (Wal) & Lloyd Edwards (Wal)
TMO: Dan Jones (Eng)
Citing Commissioner: Chris Sharp (Eng)

LOU Rugby v Hollywoodbets Sharks
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Ita)
ARs: Daniele Pompa (Ita) & Matteo Angelo Locatelli (Ita)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Ita)
Citing Commissioner: Dana Teagarden (Ger)

Black Lion v Ospreys
Referee: Benoit Rousselet (Fra)
ARs: Remi Aigubonne (Fra) & Thomas Chereque (Fra)
TMO: Herve Lasusa (Fra)
Citing Commissioner: Nomsebenzi Tsotsobe (RSA)

Zebre Parma v Ulster Rugby
Referee: Ben Connor (Wal)
ARs: Rhys Jones (Wal) & Marcus Caudle (Wal)
TMO: Adam Jones (Wal)
Citing Commissioner: Csaba Priskin (Cze)

Scarlets v Newcastle Red Bulls
Referee: Evan Urruzmendi (Fra)
ARs: Anthony Lac (Fra) & Ludovic Lespes (Fra)
TMO: Jean Lespes (Fra)
Citing Commissioner: Jermone America (RSA)

Harlequins v RC Vannes
Referee: Peter Martin (Ire)
ARs: Keane Davison (Ire) & Jack MacNeice (Ire)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ire)
Citing Commissioner: Alex Logan (Sco)

Aviron Bayonnais v Toyota Cheetahs
Referee: Sara Cox (Eng)
ARs: Harry Walbaum (Eng) & Jamie Leahy (Eng)
TMO: Peter Allan (Eng)
Citing Commissioner: Patrick Handl (Ger)

Castres Olympique v Benetton Rugby
Referee: Morne Ferreira (RSA)
ARs: Ru Campbell (Sco) & Ciaran Stark (Sco)
TMO: Marius Jonker (RSA)
Citing Commissioner: Dave Guyan (Eng)

Rugby Europe Super Cup – round 2

Bohemia v Lusitanos
Referee: Maria Latos (Ger)
AR: Adele Robert (Bel) & Bram Oudman (Ned)

Delta v Romanian Wolves
Referee: Eugene Procopi (Mol)
Ars: Luka Lerotic (Cro) & Jenny Lee (Spa)

Rugby Europe Conference (Men’s)

Israel v Andorra
Referee: Melo Antonio (Por)

Gibraltar v Cyprus
Referee: Vadims Galajevs (Lat)

Croatia v Slovenia
Referee: Andrei Ballok (Rom)

Estonia v Luxembroug
Referee: Vlad Iinytskyi (Ukr)

England: Elior Champ Rugby (Men’s)

Nottingham Rugby v Bedford Blues
Referee: Henry Pearson
ARs: James Pidding & Gregg Dawson

Caldy v Ampthill
Referee: Ben Simpson
ARs: James Pidding & Darryl Chapman

Doncaster v Coventry
Referee: Charlie Gayther
ARs: Iain Kiy & Calum Howard

Blackheath v Ealing Trailfinders
Referee: Matt Sharpe
ARs: Michael Maple & James Clarke

Hartpury v Worcester Warriors
Referee: Benjamin Wood
ARs: Greg Macdonald & Veryan Boscawen

Cornish Pirates v Chinnor
Referee: Andy Wigley
ARs: Henry Lowis & Emmerson Wood

Richmond v Rotherham
Referee: Jonathan Cook
ARs: Mike Hudson & Gareth Holsgrove

England: PWR Cup (Women’s)

Pool A:
Loughborough Lightning v Leicester Tigers Women
Referee: Rosie Procter
ARs: Jenny Burrows & Kieron Henry

Saracens Women v Exeter Chiefs Women
Referee: Alex Thomas
ARs: Ryan Collier & Chrissy Clark

Pool B:
Harlequins Women v Bristol Bears Women
Referee: Rebecca Piddlesden
ARs: Neil Chivers & Jack Sutton

Gloucester-Hartpury Women v Ealing Trailfinders Women
Referee: Michael Lamb
ARs: Simon Adams & Yueli Ang

Netherlands: Ereklasse

RC The Dukes v AAC
Referee: Conrad Riepe

RC Eemland v Castricum RC
Referee: Dan O’Connell

RC ’t Gooi v RFC Oisterwijk Oysters
Referee: Katherine Ritchie

RFC Haarlem v RC Hoek van Holland
Referee: Thomas Binns

Rotterdam RC v RC DIOK
Referee: Oliver Hadfield

Haagsche RC v Ascrum
Referee: Lars Looten

New Zealand: Hilux National Provincial Championship – Semi-finals

Northland v Otago
Referee: Paul Williams
ARs: Marcus Playle & Angus Mabey
TMO: Glenn Newman

Canterbury v Taranaki
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
ARs: Todd Petrie & Jackson Henshaw
TMO: Liam Scanlon

NZ: Hilux Heartland Championship

Meads Cup Final
Mid Canterbury v King Country
Referee: Caleb Neilson
ARs: Dan Moore & Jackson Brierly

Lochore Cup Final
South Canterbury v Whanganui
Referee: William Day
ARs: William Todd & Josh Edmonds

Germany: Frauen Bundesliga (Women’s)

SG Bayern v SG Lionesses
Referee: Noah Douglas

Eintracht Frankfurt v SG Lionesses
Referee: TBC

Heidelberger RK 1872 v Germania List
Referee: Costinel Costin Croitoru

TSV Hirschau Tübingen v RC Mainz (Wombats)
Referee: Mostafa Eftekhari

SG Bayern 2 v SG Baden
Referee: Stefan Lembach

SG Dortmund/Schaumburg v SG Berlin
Referee: TBC

Germany: Herren Bundesliga (Men’s)

RC Luxembourg v SC Frankfurt 1880
Referee: Nils Radtke
ARs: TBC

Berliner RC v Heidelberger RK 1872
Referee: Joshua Jahn
ARs: Philipp Gaedig & Ivo Meyer

Hannover 78 v TSV Handschuhsheim
Referee: Marius Bollian
ARs: Tana Giles & Jonas Klingspohn

RGH v Germania List
Referee: Ruaridh Smith
ARs: Costinel Costin Croitoru & Esra Frank

SC Neuenheim v München RFC
Referee: Paul Warman
ARs: Victor E Garcia-Arroba & Florian Behrens

Bundesliga 2

Hamburger RC v RC Leipzig
Referee: Philipp Zürn

Berliner SV 1892 v St. Pauli
Referee: Jonas Hinz

VfR 06 Döhren v Victoria Linden
Referee: Cara Senneka

RK Heusenstamm v Heidelberger TV
Referee: Sebastian Milgram

Stuttgarter RC v StuSta
Referee: Luc Muhirwa

RC Unterföhring v RC Rottweil
Referee: Malina Kleine

Scotland: Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership – round 7

Heriot’s Rugby v GHA
Referee: Murray Oliver
ARs: Scott Cubitt & David Changleng

Glasgow Hawks v Ayr
Referee: Steven Turnbull
ARs: Lee Fish & Alistair Watt

Currie Chieftains v Kelso
Referee: David Young
ARs: Kevin McGhee & Brian McGuff

Watsonians v Edinburgh Academical
Referee: Mary Pringle
ARs: Allan Parry & Bob Nevins

Melrose Rugby v Hawick
Referee: Daniel Evans
ARs: Ted Coutts & Charles Samson

Scotland: Sarah Beaney Cup (Women’s)

Heriots Rugby Women v Dundee Valkyries
Referee: Graeme Dryburgh-Cook

Corstorphine Cougars WRFC v West Of Scotland WRFC
Referee: Andrew Wyllie

Cartha Queens Park WRFC v Wigtownshire WRFC
Referee: Stuart Wright

Stirling County WRFC v Highland Women
Referee: AJ Guthrie

Hillhead Jordanhill WRFC v Ayr WRFC
Referee: Rebecca Rees

Greenock Wanderers v Biggar WRFC
Referee: Lee Fish

Italy: Serie A Elite Maschile (men’s)

G.S. Fiamme Oro Rugby Roma v Valorugby Emilia
Referee: Riccardo Angelucci
ARs: Gabriel Ionut Chirnoaga & Luca Giurina
TMO: Vincenzo Schipani

Rugby Rovigo Delta v Rugby Viadana 1970
Referee: Clara Munarini
ARs: Lorenzo Pedezzi & Marco Sanatelli
TMO: Alex Frasson

Rugby Lyons v Rugby Parabiago
Referee: Riccardo Bonato
ARs: Francesco Meschini & Alessandro Di Fruscia
TMO: Luca Trentin

Rugby Petrarca v Rugby Vicenza 2025
Referee: Manuel Bottino
ARs: Giorgio Sgardiolo & Federico Boraso
TMO: Stefano Roscini

Mogliano Veneto Rugby v Biella Rugby Club
Referee: Lorenzo Negro
ARs: Luca Bisetto & Ferdinando Cusano
TMO: Filippo Bertelli

Spain: Liga Iberdrola (Womens) – Round 2

Getxo Rugby v Silicius Rugby Majadahonda
Referee: Alberto Diaz Camarero

Turia v Vulcanizados Alvarez El Salvador
Referee: Carlos Guerrero Padin

Club de Rugby Sant Cugat v Barcelona Universitari Club
Referee: Jokin Eskolar Olaeta

Rialta CRAT Coruña v Cajasol Sevilla Cocos
Referee: TBC

Ireland: Energia AIL (Women’s)

Galwegians RFC v Railway Union RFC
Referee: Johnny Quinn

UL Bohemian RFC v Blackrock College RFC
Referee: Siobhán Daly

Wicklow RFC v Old Belvedere RFC
Referee: Emma Murphy

France: ProD2 – Round 7

Oyonnax Rugby v Valence Romans
Referee: Jonathan Dufort
ARs: Pierre Olivier Julien & Quentin Sfez
TMO: Mathieu Noirot

Colomiers Rugby v RC Narbonnais
Referee: Damien Dauvissat
ARs: Benoit Albert Bonnafous & Lilian Lamoliate
TMO: Martin Lebegue

AS Béziers Hérault v Stade Aurillacois
Referee: Hugo Dutreuilh
ARs: Adrien Maset & Yannick Vals
TMO: Baptiste Assemat

US Dax v US Montauban
Referee: Thomas Charabas
ARs: Sylvain Jaymes & Adrien Marbot
TMO: Benoit Caballero

Nissa Rugby v Provence Rugby
Referee: Vivien Praderie
ARs: Julien Camus & Abdjallil El Khaoulani
TMO: Richard Duhau

USON Nevers v SU Agen
Referee: Pierre Bru
ARs: Thomas Dufau Dussarrat & Ghyslain Elias
TMO: Stephane Boyer

Biarritz Olympique PB v Soyaux-Angoulême XV
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
ARs: Jonathan Gasnier & Danny Groizeleau
TMO: Laurent Sclafer

CA Brive v FC Grenoble Rugby
Referee: Stephane Coulon
ARs: Benjamin Assie & Aurelien Laloo
TMO: Patrick Pechambert

HKC: Men’s Premiership

Societe Generale Valley RFC v HKFC Natixis Club
Referee: Francesco Cammisa (32nd Prem Appointment)
ARs: Chris Howe & Steven Yuen

Admiralty Asia USRC Tigers RFC v Milwaukee Hong Kong Scottish
Referee: Zanden Jeh (QRRA)
ARs: Nico Fox & Rowan Turner

Janus Henderson Sandy Bay v DLP Piper Kowloon Rugby
Referee: Morgan White (42nd Prem Appointment)
ARs: Patrick Kwok & Evans Lam

HKC: Women’s Premiership

Causeway Sandy Bay v DLA Piper Kowloon Rugby
Referee: Patrick Kwok (41st WPrem Appointment)
ARs: Ivy Kwong & Carman Man

Societe Generale Valley RFC v HKFC Natixis Ice
Referee: Jan Tan (15th WPrem Appointment)
ARs: Francesco Cammisa & Jackie Ho

Admiralty Asia USRC Tigers Women v Clement Shield/VetiVa Gai Wu Falcons
Referee: Nico Fox (4th WPrem Appointment)
ARs: Sam Chan & Daniel Cao