Sept 19-22 match official appointments: PNC, WXV, Premiership ...

It’s the final of the Pacific Nations Cup in Japan this weekend where Nic Berry (pictured top left) has the refereeing duties to attend to as the hosts play Fiji. Ben O’Keeffe does the third fourth place play off with USA playing Samoa. In doing so, he equals Paul Honnis’s record of 46 tests for a NZ referee.

In other internationals, it’s Rugby Championship round five (Karl Dickson and Christophe Ridley (on TRC debut) on either side of the planet); WXV warm ups (Precious Pazani (top left) on duty in Kenya); and some Rugby Europe fixtures too. Laura Wunsch from Austria (bottom right) heads to Bucharest for their women’s test match against Bulgaria.  Congrats to Sara Cox who hits the 40th test cap milestone in Newport on Friday evening as Wales play the Wallaroos.

With the Top14 and ProD2 aready up and running, this weekend’s season openers are the Gallagher Premiership and the United Rugby Championship. There’s no SA teams involved this weekend as they give space for the big domestic cup final – the Currie Cup. Morne Ferreira takes charge of his first Currie Cup Final when the Lions host the Sharks in Johannesburg. Ben Breakspear (bottom left) has the first Welsh derby of the season (Dragons-Ospreys), and Luke Pearce referees his 151st Prem match, in a repeat of last year’s final – Bath v Northampton.

Go well everyoneKeith

Pacific Nations Cup finals

USA v Samoa – Third place play-offReferee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)ARs: Craig Evans (Wal) & Takehito Namekawa (Jpn)TMO: Tual Trainini (Fra)

Fiji v Japan – FinalReferee: Nic Berry (Aus)ARs: Paul Williams (NZ) & Morgan White (HKC)TMO: Damon Murphy (Aus)

Rugby Championship – round 5

Australia v New ZealandReferee: Karl Dickson (Eng)ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Damian Schneider (Arg)TMO: Stuart Terheege (Eng)

Argentina v South AfricaReferee: Christophe Ridley (Eng)ARs: Matt Carley (Eng) & Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)

WXV Warm ups

South Africa v SpainReferee: Zoe Naude (SA)ARs: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SA) & Dylan November (SA)TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA)

Netherlands v FijiReferee: Mélissa Leboeuf (Fra)ARs: Katherine Ritchie (Ned) & Marit Bras (Ned)

Kenya v MadagascarReferee: Precious Pazani (Zim)ARs: KRU appointments

Wales v AustraliaReferee: Sara Cox (Eng)ARs: Holly Wood (Eng) & Chelsea Gillespie (Sco)TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Sco)

Rugby Europe – Women’s Conference

Romania Women v Bulgaria WomenReferee: Laura Wunsch (Austria)

Rugby Europe Super Cup 2024

Lusitanos v Black LionReferee: Alex Frasson (Ita)ARs: Alberto Favoaro (Ita) & Simone Boaretto (Ita)

Brussels Devils v Bohemia WarriorsReferee: Eugeniu Procpi (Mol)ARs: Anatol Tipa (Mol) & Victor Lungu (Mol)

Romanian Wolves v DeltaReferee: Saba Abulashvili (Geo)ARs: Sulkhan Chikladze (Geo) & Giga Mshvenieradze (Geo)

South Africa: Carling Currie Cup – Premier Division Final

Fidelity ADT Lions v Hollywoodbets Sharks XVReferee: Morne FerreiraARs: Griffin Colby & Stephan GeldenhuysTMO: Egon Seconds

BKT United Rugby Championship – Round 1

Cardiff Rugby v Zebre ParmaReferee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 19th league game)ARs: Mike English (WRU) & Rhys Jones (WRU)TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

Edinburgh Rugby v LeinsterReferee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 46th league game)ARs: Jonny Perriam (SRU) & Michael Todd (SRU)TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)

Dragons RFC v OspreysReferee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, 3rd league game)ARs: Mike English (WRU) & Ben Connor (WRU)TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)

Munster v ConnachtReferee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 43rd league game)ARs: Andrew Cole (IRFU) & Dan Carson (IRFU)TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)

Benetton v ScarletsReferee: Ian Kenny (SRU, 4th league game)ARs: Fillipo Russo (FIR) AR 2: Franco Rosella (FIR)TMO: Dave Sutherland (SRU)

Ulster v Glasgow WarriorsReferee: Adam Jones (WRU, 38th league game)ARs: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU) & Padraig Reidy (IRFU)TMO: Tom Spurrier (WRU)

England: Gallagher Premiership – round 1

Newcastle Falcons v Bristol BearsReferee: Anthony Woodthorpe (31st Premiership match)ARs: Hamish Smales & John MeredithTMO: Dean Richards

Bath Rugby v Northampton SaintsReferee: Luke Pearce (151st Premiership match)ARs: Dan Jones & Jamie LeahyTMO: Tom Foley

Exeter Chiefs v Leicester TigersReferee: Tom Foley (131st Premiership match)ARs: George Selwood & Jonathan HealyTMO: David Rose

Gloucester Rugby v SaracensReferee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (128th Premiership match)ARs: Andrew Jackson & Peter AllanTMO: Rowan Kitt

Sale Sharks v HarlequinsReferee: Adam Leal (38th Premiership match)ARs: Jack Makepeace & Greg MacdonaldTMO: Andrew Jackson

England: RFU Championship – round 1

Nottingham v Cornish PiratesReferee: Jack MakepeaceARs: James Clarke James Cornell

London Scottish v CoventryReferee: Hamish GrantARs: Andy Wigley & Ryan Collier

Doncaster Knights v AmpthillReferee: Mike HudsonARs: Gregg Dawson & Wayne Falla

Cambridge v ChinnorReferee: Richard GordonARs: Calum Howard & James Pidding

Ealing Trailfinders v Hartpury UniversityReferee: Alex ThomasARs: Hamish Grant & Veryan Boscawen

Bedford Blues v CaldyReferee: Harry WalbaumARs: Neil Chivers & James Clarke

England: PWR – Pre-season Power Up series

Saracens Women v Trailfinders WomenReferee: Nikki O’DonnellARs: Simon Adams & Darryl Chapman

Bristol Bears Women v Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFCReferee: Charlie GaytherARs: Fiona Brunt & Kevin Williams

Loughborough Lightning v Leicester Tigers WomenReferee: Kasey AllenARs: James Cornell & Simon Park

France: Top14 – round 3

Montpellier Hérault Rugby v Stade ToulousainReferee: Jonathan GasnierARs: Anthony Lac & Thierry MalletTMO: Cedric Marchat

ASM Clermont v Aviron BayonnaisReferee: Vincent Blasco BaqueARs: Stephane Coulon & Stephane CrapoixTMO: Jonathan Dufort

Castres Olympique v USA PerpignanReferee: Adrien MarbotARs: Stephane Boyer & Benoit RousseletTMO: Denis Grenouillet

RC Vannes v LOU RugbyReferee: Thomas CharabasARs: Laurent Millotte & Pierre Baptiste NuchyTMO: Akim Hadj Bachir

Stade Rochelais v Section PaloiseReferee: Jeremy RozierARs: Benoit Albert Bonnafous & Vivien PraderieTMO: Patrick Pechambert

Union Bordeaux-Bègles v Racing 92Referee: Luc RamosARs: Christophe Bultet & Evan UrruzmendiTMO: Julien Castaignede

Stade Français Paris v RC ToulonReferee: Pierre BroussetARs: Kevin Bralley & Christophe GaillardonTMO: Philippe Bonhoure

France: ProD2 – round 4

FC Grenoble Rugby v US DaxReferee: Cyrille BoulayARs: Mourad Gharbi Tarchouna & Herve LasausaTMO: Jonathan Dufort

US Montalbanaise v Biarritz Olympique PBReferee: Mathieu NoirotARs: Julien Caulier & Frederic ChazalTMO: Christophe Berdos

CA Brive v Stade AurillacoisReferee: Benjamin HernandezARs: Sylvain Brayelle & Stephane CoulonTMO: Jean Luc Rebollal

Colomiers Rugby v Valence RomansReferee: Ludovic CarrilloARs: David Beun & Christian CoussanTMO: Mourad Zitouni

Oyonnax Rugby v Stade Niçois RugbyReferee: Thomas CherequeARs: Remy Charleroy & Walter PracheTMO: Bruno Bessot

Soyaux-Angoulême XV v Stade Montois RugbyReferee: Evan UrruzmendiARs: Ghyslain Elias & Jean LespesTMO: Laurent Sclafer

SU Agen v USON NeversReferee: Flavien HourquetARs: Benjamin Beuriot & Fabrice HandTMO: Patrick Dellac

AS Béziers Hérault v Provence RugbyReferee: Pierre BruARs: Denis Daste & Thibault SantamariaTMO: Denis Grenouillet

Ireland: Energia All Ireland League 1A 24/25

Ballynahinch v City of ArmaghReferee: Peter Martin

Garryowen v LansdowneReferee: Andrew Fogarty

St Marys College RFC v ClontarfReferee: Christopher Lough

Terenure College RFC v Cork ConstitutionReferee: Stuart Gaffikin

UCD v Young MunsterReferee: Keane Davison

New Zealand: Bunnings NPC – round 7

Hawke’s Bay v TaranakiReferee: Marcus PlayleARs: Stu Catley & Matt AstleTMO: Jono Bredin

Northland v North HarbourReferee: Todd PetrieARs: Stephan Ball & Leo PalmerTMO: Llew Smart

Canterbury v Counties ManukauReferee: Fraser HannonARs: Karl Hancox & John WhitcombeTMO: Liam Scanlon

Wellington v Bay of PlentyReferee: Angus MabeyARs: Matt Thomas & Jamie FairmaidTMO: Jared Clarke

Waikato v TasmanReferee: Stu CurranARs: Ben Woolerton & Ben BrownlieTMO: John Wright

Auckland v SouthlandReferee: Jono BredinARs: Tomas Roche & Nathan ChestnutTMO: Robert Harman

Manawatu v OtagoReferee: Dan WaengaARs: Sam Couper & Matt BoothTMO: Carl Baker

Taranaki v North HarbourReferee: Damian SchneiderARs: Paul Williams & Warwick LahmertTMO: Richard Kelly

NZ: Heartland Championship – round 6

North Otago v Mid CanterburyReferee: Will ToddARs: TBC

Poverty Bay v King CountryReferee: Stu CatleyARs: TBC

Thames Valley v BullerReferee: Ben WoolertonARs: Stu Watts & Ryan Rogers

Whanganui v Wairarapa BushReferee: Jack SargentinaARs: Jacob Booth & Amon Rimene

West Coast v East CoastReferee: Dan MooreARs: Chris O’Malley & Andrew Robb

Horowhenua Kapiti v South CanterburyReferee: Andy MortonARs: Randal Peni & Josh Rooney

NZ: Farah Palmer Cup – round 7

Northland v WaikatoReferee: Maggie Cogger-OrrARs: Llew Smart & Leo Palmer

Auckland v Hawke’s BayReferee: Sam AdamARs: Tomas Roche & Antony Petrie

Bay of Plenty v CanterburyReferee: Warwick Lahmert ARs: TBC

NZ: Farah Palmer Cup – Championship Final

Manawatu v OtagoReferee: Tiana AndersonARs: Matty McEwen & Warrick PriceTMO: Carl Baker

Scotland: Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership

Stirling County WRFC v Hillhead Jordanhill WRFCReferee: Lee FishARs: Walter Gaffney & Colin George

Corstorphine Cougars WRFC v Heriots Rugby WomenReferee: Matthew WilkieARs: Rosie Evans & Sean Bicknell

Cartha Queens Park WRFC v Garioch WRFCReferee: Graeme Dryburgh-CookARs: Allana McLean & Ross Smillie

Stewartry WRFC v Watsonians WRFCReferee: Yvonne TunnicliffARs: George Downie & Marsha Peasley

Scotland: Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership

Watsonians v Edinburgh AcademicalReferee: Samuel O’NeilARs: Scott Cubitt & Willie Anderson

Heriot’s Rugby Men v MarrReferee: Rob McDowellARs: Kyle McAlinden & Brian McGuff

Glasgow Hawks v KelsoReferee: Ciaran StarkARs: Kevin McGhee & John Hawryluk-Beaton

Selkirk v AyrReferee: John SmithARs: Sean Mallon & Bob Nevins

Currie Chieftains v HawickReferee: Mike AdamsonARs: Charles Samson & Stephen Ward

Musselburgh v Melrose RugbyReferee: Stephen YoungARs: David Changleng & Digby Thomas