Aimee Barrett-Theron to referee Black Ferns QF

South Africa’s Aimee Barrett-Theron has been appointed to officiate the quarterfinal of the Rugby World Cup between host nation New Zealand and Wales on Saturday at Northland Events Centre in Whangārei.

This match kicks off at 8:30 SA time.

Barrett-Theron made her first refereeing appearance at a World Cup five years ago.

Eight teams remain in the tournament following a thrilling climax to the pool phase last weekend.

At the end of the pool phase, the eight teams that have made the quarter-finals were ranked from one to eight based on their results, with the three pool winners seeded first to third, runners-up fourth to sixth and the two best third-placed teams seventh and eighth.

The Rugby World Cup 2021 tournament format sees the top seeds play the eighth in the quarter-finals, the second seeds face the seventh, third play sixth and fourth meet fifth.

Scotland’s Hollie Davidson will take charge of the first quarter-final between France and Italy at 5:30 local time at Northland Events Centre in Whangārei on Saturday, 29 October. In what will be her 25th test match, Davidson will referee the fixture for the second time, having overseen France’s 45-10 victory in the 2020 Women’s Six Nations.

On Sunday, 30 October at Waitākere Stadium in Auckland, Kiwi Maggie Cogger-Orr, who refereed the opening match of RWC 2021, will take charge of the third quarter-final between England and Australia at 02:30.

RWC 2017 final referee Joy Neville of Ireland will then officiate the last quarter-final of the weekend when Canada again face USA at 16:30. It will be the first time Neville referees this fixture since July 2016 when Canada won 33-5.

The four teams emerging victorious this weekend will meet in the semi-finals at Eden Park on Saturday, 5 November, while the Rugby World Cup 2021 journey will end for the four losing teams.