Referees to 25 March 2012

Astonishingly the Six Nations is already over and Wales rule with a Grand Slam. As one door shuts, another opens, for this coming weekend sees the very first qualifying match for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. And there is a new referee in Super 15.

The referee in Mexico City is Craig Joubert. He continues what has become a tradition – that the referee who referees the Final of the Rugby World Cup referees the first qualifying match of the next World Cup.

When André Watson refereed Andorra vs Norway in 2004 it was his last Test match. This will not be the case with Craig Joubert who is only 34 years of age and at the top of the refereeing tree.

Mark Lawrence has had to withdraw from his Super Rugby match in Canberra and his place is taken by Lourens van der Merwe, a schoolmaster at Grey College in Bloemfontein. This will be the first Super Rugby match that he has refereed. It is a big match, between two of the leading teams, Brumbies and Highlanders.

International

Rugby World Cup Qualifier

Mexico vs Jamaica at La Ibero, Santa Fe in Mexico City
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

European Nations Cup

Division 1B

Germany vs Moldova in Heidelberg
Referee: Vlad Iordachescu (Romania)
Assistant referees: Razvan Diaconescu (Romania), Dumitru Frasineanu (Romania)

Schools Under-18

Ireland vs Scotland
Referee: Nigel Correll (Ireland)

Under-17

Scotland vs England
Referee: Sean Gallagher (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Kevin White (Scotland), Graham Allen (Scotland) 

IRB’s Sevens Series

The Sevens Series moves to Hong Kong, for years the focal point of Sevens and rugby’s biggest [party.

Referees: Federico Anselmi (Argentina), Akihisa Aso (Japan), Jason Jaftha (South Africa), James McPhail (New Zealand), Anthony Moyes (Australia), Matthew O’Brien (Australia), Luke Pearce (England), Alexandre Ruiz (France).

Super Rugby, Week 5

Blues vs Hurricanes in Auckland
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Jonathon White (New Zealand), Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Television match official: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)

Rebels vs Force in Melbourne
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Andrew Lees (Australia)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)

Waratahs vs Sharks in Sydney
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ian Smith (Australia), James Leckie (Australia)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)

Crusaders vs Cheetahs
Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Matthew Muir (New Zealand)
Television match official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)

Brumbies vs Highlanders in Canberra
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Marius Jonker (South Africa), Simon Moore (Australia)
Television match official: Steve Lesczcynski (Australia)

Bulls vs Reds in Pretoria
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman (South Africa), Stefan Breytenbach (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

Lions vs Stormers in Johannesburg
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry (South Africa), Christie du Preez (South Africa)
Television match official: Gerrie Coetzee (South Africa)

Pro 12

Edinburgh vs Dragons at Murrayfield
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland), Iain Bruce (Scotland)
Assessor: Andy Clift (Scotland)

Glasgow vs Aironi at Firhill Stadium
Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Macpherson (Scotland), Bib Nevins (Scotland)
Television match official: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
Assessor: Fergus Neil (Scotland)

Connacht vs Munster at Sportsground
Referee: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Peter Haycock (Ireland), Michael Blacks (Ireland)
Television match official: Sean Flannery (Ireland)
Assessor: Bertie Smith (Ireland)

Leinster vs Ospreys at Royal Dublin Society
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Simon McDowell (Ireland), Ollie Hodges (Ireland)
Television match official: Alan Rogan (Ireland)
Assessor: Tim Aplin (Ireland)
 
Benetton Treviso vs Ulster at Stadio Monigo
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Assistant referees: Carlo Damasco (Italy), Alan Falzone (Italy)
Television match official: Stefano Marrama (Italy)

Cardiff Blues vs Scarlets at Cardiff City Stadium
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Leighton Hodges (Wales), Jon Mason (Wales)
Television match official: Gareth Simmonds (Wales)

Domestic

England

Premiership

Sale Sharks vs Saracens
Referee: Andrew Small
Assistant referees: Stuart Terheege, Alan Hughes

Worcester Warriors vs Newcastle Falcons
Referee: Sean Davey
Assistant referees: Gareth Copsey, Alan Biggs

Harlequins vs Bath
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant referees: Peter Huckle, Ashley Rowden
Television match official: Graham Hughes

Gloucester vs Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Greg Garner
Assistant referees: Robin Goodliffe, Don Helme

Northampton Saints vs London Wasps
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
Assistant referees: Nigel Carrick, Paul Burton
Television match official: David Matthews

London Irish vs Leicester Tigers
Referee: Dean Richards
Assistant referees: Roy Maybank, Andrew Watson
Television match official: David Grashoff

Friendly

East Midlands vs Army
Referee: Martin Fox

France

Top 14, Round 21

Bordeaux vs Toulouse at Stade Jacques Chaban-Delmas (Bordeaux)
Referee: Pascal Gauzere
Assistant referees: Jérôme Lamirand, Didier Dussaut
Television match official: Daniel Irazoqui
 
Clermont vs Perpignan at Parc Des Sports Marcel Michelin
Referee: Cédric Marchat
Assistant referees: Flavien Hourquet, Bruno Fiche
Television match official: Jean-Marie Piraveau

Lyon vs Biarritz at Matmut Stadium
Referee: Romain Poite
Assistant referees: Akim Hadj Bachir, Pascal Ubeda
Television match official: Bruno Bessot

Castres vs Montpellier at Stade Pierre Antoine
Referee: Christophe Berdos
Assistant referees: Sébastien Cloute, René Bordeneuve
Television match official: Hervé Dubes
 
Stade Français vs Agen at Mmarena (Le Mans)
Referee: Jérôme Garces
Assistant referees: Stephane Pomarede, Patrick Beuriot
Television match official: Gilles Cogne

Toulon vs Racing Métro at Stade Mayol
Referee: Jean-Luc Rebollal
Assistant referees: Salem Attalah, Christophe Graviou
Television match official: Philippe Bonhoure
 
Bayonne vs Brive at Stade Jean Dauger
Referee: Patrick Pechambert
Assistant referees: Vincent Blasco, Philippe Gorbenko
Television match official: Laurent Valin

Ireland

Ulster Bank League

Division 1A

Dolphin vs Lansdowne
Referee: John Carvill

Garryowen vs Old Belvedere
Referee: Durragh Mccormack

Shannon vs Cork Constitution
Referee: Simon McDowell

St Mary’s vs Blackrock
Referee: Ollie Hodges

Young Munster vs Clontarf
Referee: David Wilkinson

Division 1B

Ballynahinch vs Ballymena
Referee: Barrie O’Connell

Belfast Harlequins vs Bruff
Referee: Trevor Collins

Dungannon vs Buccaneers
Referee: Eanna O’Dowd

UL Bohemians vs UCD
Referee: Mark Patton

UCC vs Galwegians
Referee: David Connolly

Italy

Eccellenza, Round 15

San Gregorio Catania vs Petrarca Padova
Referee: Claudio Passacantando (L’Aquila)
Assistant referees: Andrea Belvedere (Roma), Francesco Pier’Antoni (Roma)

Mantovani Lazio vs Estra I Cavalieri Prato
Referee: Stefano Pennè (Milano)
Assistant referees: Vincenzo De Martino (Napoli), Francesco Commone (Napoli)

Rugby Reggio vs BancaMonteParma Crociati
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Treviso)
Assistant referees: Stefano Roscini (Milano), Paolo Valbusa (Treviso)

Marchiol Mogliano vs L’Aquila Rugby
Referee: Alan Falzone (Padova)
Assistant referees: Giacomo Serchiani (Padova), Ferdinando Cusano (Vicenza)

Femi-CZ Vea Rovigo vs Cammi Calvisano
Referee: Carlo Damasco (Napoli)
Assistant referees: Claudio Blessano (Treviso),Angelo Marchesin (Venezia)

New Zealand

Development Squad

Crusaders vs Highlanders at Alpine Energy Stadium, Timaru
Referee: Matt Muir

Scotland

Premier A8

Ayr vs Gala
Referee: Andrew Macpherson
Assistant referees: Robert Mchenry, Graham Allen 

Dundee HSFP vs Currie
Referee: Peter Allan
Assistant referees: Tbc, Graeme Marshall 

Melrose vs Aberdeen
Referee: Andrew Mcmenemy
Assistant referees: Cammy Rudkin, Alan Forrest 

Stirling County vs Boroughmuir
Referee: Jean-Marie Burel
Assistant referees: Mhairi Hay, Brian Darling

South Africa

Vodacom Cup

Border Bulldogs vs Pampas at Buffalo City Municipality Stadium, East London
Referee: Sindile Mayende
Assistant referees: Lusanda Jam, Mawande Mpiti
Assessor: Hugo Jacques

The Griffons vs Pumas at North West Stadium, Welkom
Referee: Mlungiseli Mdashe
Assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Gerrit Coetzer

Free State XV vs Sharks XV at Bloemfontein Stadium
Referee: Ben Crouse
Assistant referees: Francois Groenewald, Pieter Janse van Vuuren
Television match official: Gerrie Coetzee
Assessor: Keith Hendicks

Valke vs Leopards at Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
Referee: Tiaan Jonker
Assistant referees: Jaco van Heersden, Local
Assessor: Willie Roos

WP vs EP Kings at City Park, Cape Town
Referee: Lesego Legoete
Assistant referees: Lusanda Jam, Local
Assessor: Willie Roos

SWD Eagles vs Boland Cavaliers at D’Almeida Stadium, Mossel Bay
Referee: Joey Salmans
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, Local
Assessor: Keith Hendricks

Blue Bulls vs Golden Lions at Loftus Versfeld
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistant referees: Mlungiseli Mdashe, Attie Buitendag
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman
Assessor: Dennis Immelman

Varsity Cup

19 March

UCT vs Tukkies
Referee: Lesego Legoete
assistant referees: Matt Kemp, Cwengile Jadezweni
Television match official: JC Fortuin, Deon van Blommestein
Assessor: Thuso Mngqibisa

Pukke vs Shimlas
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Local
Assessor: Pierre Oelofse

TUT vs NMMU
Referee: Tiaan Jonker
assistant referees: Jaco van Heerden. Local
Assessor: Tappe Henning

UJ vs Maties
Referee: Quinton Immelman
assistant referees: Gerrie de Bruin, Eduan Nel
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman
Assessor: Theuns Naudé

Shield

UKZN vs Fort Hare
Referee: Lusanda Jam
assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Allan O’ Connell

UWC vs Wits
Referee: Pieter Janse van Vuuren
assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Dennis Immelman

Young Guns

UJ vs Maties
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Theuns Naudé

UCT vs Tukkies
Referee: François Groenewald
assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Thuso Mngqibisa

26 March

Varsity Cup Semifinals

Maties vs UJ at Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Marc van Zyl
Television match official: JC Fortuin, Deon van Blommestein

Tukkie vs Pukke at Tuks Rugby Stadium, Pretoria
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistant referees: Tiaan Jonker, Stefan Breytenbach
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen, Johan Greeff

Varsity Shield

Fort Hare vs CUT at Davidson Rugby Stadium, Alice
Referee: Archie Sehlako

UKZN vs UWC at Peter Booysen Sports Park, Pietermaritzburg
Referee: Gerrie de Bruin
Assessor: Allan O’Connell

Young Guns

Maties vs Shimlas at Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Referee: Daniel Fortuin
Assistant referees: Andrew Slater, Hein Gericke
Assessor: Dennis Immelman

Tukkies vs Pukke at Tuks Rugby Stadium, Pretoria
Referee: Jaco Kotze
Assistant referees: Stephan Geldenhuys, Eduan Nel
Assessor: Pierre Oelofse

Spain

División De Honor, Round 15

Bizkaia Gernika vs Cetransa El Salvador in Altamira (Gernika)
Referee: Sergi Figueruelo

UE Santboiana Seat vs Getxo Artea in Baldiri Aleu (Sant Boi De Llobregat)
Referee: Félix Villegas

Wales

Premiership

Pontypool vs Aberavon
Referee: David Jones
Assistant referees: Simon Wycherley, Steve Richmond