Sevens Panels Change
There are several changes to the 21-man men's panel and the 12 referees who make up the women's panel. The selectors have produced a combination of experience and new talent after a record 60 referees were nominated for inclusion on this series from 29 unions across the men's and women's panels.
The 2016-17 men's selection committee is chaired by Anthony Buchanan (Wales) along with recently retired referees Anthony Moyes (Australia) and James McPhail (Netherlands) as well as Ricardo Bordcoch (Argentina) and World Rugby High Performance Sevens Referee Manager Paddy O'Brien. The women's selection panel is also chaired by Buchanan and features former referees Clare Daniels (England) and David Keane (Ireland) as well as Bordcoch and O'Brien.
Sevens rugby was given a boost by participation in the Rio Olympics. Both referees for the gold-medal matches are still on the panels – Rasta Rasivhenge who refereed the men's final and Alhambra Nievas who refereed the women's final.
Five of the new referees are former international players – Richard Haughton, who scored more than 100 series tries for England between 2000 and 2006, Damon Murphy, Joy Neville, Rebecca Mahoney and Hollie Davidson.
Of those who refereed at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero, only three men are left and four women. The men are Ben Crouse, Richard Kelly and Rasta Rasivhenge. The women are Aimee Barrett, Beatrice Benvenuti anbd Amy Perrett.
Chairman Buchanan said: "Following on from the success of the Olympic Games in Rio, the selectors were delighted with the interest shown by unions in nominating referees for the 2016-17 World Rugby Sevens Series.
"This is the start of the four-year cycle leading into Tokyo 2020 and it is extremely pleasing to note the number of ex-international players now taking up the whistle.
"Many of those who officiated over the last number of years have moved on to 15s or have retired and so now is the time to bring through the new generation of match officials that will bring us to the next Olympic Games."
Men's Panel: Chris Assmus (Canada), Pierre Brousset (France), Ben Crouse (South Africa), Pablo De Luca (Argentina), James Dolman (New Zealand), Paulo Duarte (Portugal), Craig Evans (Wales), Sam Grove-White (Scotland), Richard Haughton (England), Nori Hashimoto (Japan), Adam Jones (Wales), Richard Kelly (New Zealand), Jaco Kotze (South Africa), Damon Murphy (Australia), Mike O'Brien (USA), Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa), Matt Rodden (Hong Kong), Tevita Rokovereni (Fiji), Damian Schneider (Argentina), Kaveni Talemaivavalagi (Fiji), Jordan Way (Australia).
Women's Panel: Aimee Barrett (South Africa), Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy), South Africara Cox (England), Ben Crouse (South Africa), Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Adam Jones (Wales), South Africakurako KawaSouth Africaki (Japan), Rose La Breche (Canada), Rebecca Mahoney (NZ), Joy Neville (Ireland), Alhambra Nievas (Spain), Amy Perrett (Australia).
