South Africa's top ref to make history in Euro competition
NEWS: South African referee Aimee Barrett-Theron is set to make history when she officiates in the European Challenge Cup.
The former flyhalf Barrett-Theron will become the first-ever South African female referee in an EPCR competition when she takes charge of the Challenge Cup Round Three match between Dragons and Section Paloise, the EPCR confirmed on Friday.
The announcement by the EPCR adds another incredible accolade for the referee, who was also the first South African female to officiate in Super Rugby and United Rugby Championship.
Ireland’s Eoghan Cross will make his Champions Cup referee debut when he takes control of the Pool 3 clash between Stade Français Paris and Northampton Saints at Stade Jean Bouin.
English team lead by Luke Pearce, with Adam Leal, Hamish Grant and Stuart Terheege in charge of “South Africa v France” as Springboks-packed Sharks host France’s top club Stade Toulousain for their Pool 1 test.
Other round three Champions Cup highlights include England’s Karl Dickson kicking off the weekend with Glasgow versus Racing 92 in Scotland on January 10, while Georgia’s Nika Amashukeli has been appointed for the La Rochelle versus Leinster game on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the governing body revealed that the European competitions will feature four law amendments to promote speed, space, and contest to enhance fan and player experiences.
Following World Rugby’s implementation of the Global Law Trials to all competitions commencing January 1, 2025, EPCR has confirmed these Law Trials will be adopted from Round 3 of the Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup.
The following four World Rugby Global Law Trials will be implemented for Rounds 3 and 4:
– A 60-second conversion limit will be used to align with penalties and improve game pace, which will be managed by a shot clock (where possible).
– 30-second setup for lineouts will match time for scrums, reducing downtime – which will be managed on-field by the match officials.
– Play-on rule in uncontested lineouts when the throw is not straight.
– Scrumhalf protection during scrums, rucks and mauls.
CHAMPIONS CUP ROUND THREE
Saturday, January 11
Stormers V Sale Sharks
(Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT; 13.00 UK Time)
Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France)
Assistant referees: Evan Urruzmendi (France) & Vincent Blasco Baque (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
Exeter Chiefs V Union Bordeaux-Bègles
(Sandy Park Stadium, Exeter – Kick-off: 15.15; 17.15 GMT; 16.15 French time)
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)
Sharks v Stade Toulousain
(Kings Park, Durban – Kick-off: 17.15; 15.15 GMT; 16.15 France time)
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees: Adam Leal (England) & Hamish Grant (England)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (England)
Munster v Saracens
(Thoman Park, Limerick – Kick-off: 17.30; 17.30 GMT)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant referees: Vivien Praderie (France) & Pierre Bru (France)
TMO: Tual Trainini (France)
Stade Francais Paris V Northampton Saints
(Stade Jean Bouin; Paris – Kick-off: 18.30; 17.30 GMT; 17.30 UK time)
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Keane Davison (Ireland) & Paul Haycock (Ireland)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Leicester Tigers V Ulster
(Welford Road Stadium, England – Kick-off: 20.00; 20.00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: TBC
TMO: TBC
Castres Olympique V Bulls
(Stade Pierre-Fabre, France – Kick-off: 21.00; 20.00 GMT; 22.00 South African time)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Hamish Smales (England) & Jamie Leahy (England)
TMO: David Rose (England)
Sunday, January 12
Toulon V Harlequins
(Stade Mayol, France – Kick-off: 16.00; 15.00 GMT; 15.00 UK Time)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland) & Padraic Reidy (Ireland)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Stade Rochelais V Leinster
(Stade Marcel-Deflandre stadium, La Rochelle – Kick-off: 16.15; 15.15 GMT; 15.15 UK time)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley (England) & Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)
Bristol Bears V Benetton
(Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol – Kick-off: 15.15; 15.15 GMT; 17.15 Italy time)
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
Assistant referees Thomas Charabas (France) & Jonathan Gasnier (France)
TMO: Julien Castaignede (France)
Bath V Clermont Auvergne
(The Recreation Ground, Bath – Kick-off: 17.30; 17.30 GMT; 18.30 France time)
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (Ireland) & Andrew Fogarty (Ireland)
TMO: Mark Patton (Ireland)
CHALLENGE CUP, ROUND THREE
Friday, January 10
Gloucester V Scarlets
(Kingsholm Stadium, England – Kick-off: 20.00; 20.00 GMT)
Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France)
Assistant referees: Jonathan Gasnier (France) & Jean Lespes (France)
TMO: Thomas Charabas (France)
Saturday, Jan 11
USAP V Cardiff
(Stade Aimé Giral , Perpignan – Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00 GMT; 13.00 UK time)
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Franco Rosella (Italy) & Nicolae Fratila (Romania)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)
RC Vannes V Edinburgh
(Stade de la Rabine, Vannes – Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00 GMT; 13.00 UK time)
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
Assistant referees: Manuel Bottino (Italy) & Alberto Favaro (Italy)
TMO: Guiseppe Vivarini (Italy)
Black Lion V Aviron Bayonnais
(Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi – Kick-off: 19.15; 15.15 GMT; 16.15 French time)
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England)
Assistant referee: Sara Cox (England)
TMO: Dean Richards (England)
Ospreys V Newcastle Falcons
(Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea – Kick-off: 17.30; 17.30 GMT)
Referee: Kevin Bralley (France)
Assistant referees: Flavien Hourquet (France) & Benoit Albert (France)
TMO: Denis Grenouillet (France)
Montpellier Hérault V Lions
(Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier – Kick-off: 18.30; 17.30 GMT; 19.30 SA time)
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
Assistant referees: Mike English (Wales)
TMO: Tom Spurrier (Wales)
Connacht V Lyon Olympique
(The Sportsground, Galway – Kick-off: 20.00; 20.00 GMT; 21.00 French time)
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Mike Adamson (Scotland) & Jonny Perriam (Scotland)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
Sunday, January 12
Cheetahs V Zebre Parma
(NRCA Stadium, Amsterdam – Kick-off: 14.00; 16.00 GMT; 15.00 Italy time)
Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Jonny Erskine (Ireland) & Stuart Gaffikin (Ireland)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
Dragons V Section Paloise
(Rodney Parade, Newport – Kick-off: 15.15; 15.15 GMT; 16.15 French time)
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Morne Ferreira (South Africa) & Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
