New record for South Africa's Barrett-Theron

NEWS: South Africa’s Aimee Barrett-Theron will become the first female to referee 40 tests when she takes charge of England against New Zealand in the WXV at Twickenham on September 14.

World Rugby has confirmed the Match Official appointments for all three levels of WXV, which will take place in Canada, South Africa, and Dubai over three consecutive weekends from 27 September to 12 October.

Appointments have been made for the first two rounds in each level of the WXV, World Rugby’s global international women’s 15’s competition, with each of the six referees on the respective panels to take charge of one match.

Barrett-Theron, the 2021 and ‘22 Referee of the Year, was the first professional female referee in South Africa.

She comes from a playing background, representing South Africa as a player in three Touch World Cups as well as a 7’s World Cup and one 15’s World Cup.

She was also the first South African woman to referee Craven Week, Varsity Cup, Currie Cup, Super Rugby, and URC and is now on her 40th international test match.

She also refereed at the Rio Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and Women’s World Cup.

South Africa’s Zoe Naude is set to make her test debuts as referee.

Sara Cox of England will join Barrett-Theron on the milestone six days later when she referees Wales v Australia in Newport.

Ella Goldsmith will referee the first of 10 warm-up matches, Japan v USA in Kitakyushu on August 11, with compatriot Jess Ling in charge of the second match six days later in Shizuoka.

Six referees will make their WXV debuts in 2024 with Julianne Zussman (Canada) in WXV 1, Naude (South Africa) in WXV 2 and Assmus, Mélissa Leboeuf (France), Ling and Tyler Miller (Australia).

Roche and Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand) will join Barrett-Theron, Cox, Aurélie Groizeleau (France), and Zussman on the WXV 1 panel.

Maria Latos (Germany) is joined in WXV 2 by Goldsmith, Amelia Luciano (USA), Clara Munarini (Italy), Naude and Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe).

Finally, Miller is joined by Assmus, Natarsha Ganley (New Zealand), Leboeuf, Ling and Holly Wood (England) on the WXV 3 panel.

Maria Latos has the honour of refereeing the opening WXV match with WXV 2 hosts South Africa against Japan at the Cape Town Stadium on September 27.

Mélissa Leboeuf will take charge of the first WXV 3 match in Dubai on September 27.

Aurélie Groizeleau will referee the opening WXV 1 match between the USA and defending champions England in Vancouver on September 29.

With little more than a year to go until the Women’s World Cup 2025 in England, World Rugby has reimagined its match officials’ strategy to ensure that the people, pathways, and processes are in place to increase the global reach and depth of international quality match officials.