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 finalsUSA 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 5Australia 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 upsSouth 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 ConferenceRomania Women v Bulgaria WomenReferee: Laura Wunsch (Austria)
Rugby Europe Super Cup 2024Lusitanos 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 FinalFidelity ADT Lions v Hollywoodbets Sharks XVReferee: Morne FerreiraARs: Griffin Colby & Stephan GeldenhuysTMO: Egon Seconds
BKT United Rugby Championship – Round 1Cardiff 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 1Newcastle 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 1Nottingham 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 seriesSaracens 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 3Montpellier 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 4FC 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 24/25Ballynahinch 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 7Hawke’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 6North 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 7Northland 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 FinalManawatu v OtagoReferee: Tiana AndersonARs: Matty McEwen & Warrick PriceTMO: Carl Baker
Scotland: Arnold Clark Women’s PremiershipStirling 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 PremiershipWatsonians 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