Referees to 7 October 2019
Wouldn’t the World Cup become marvellous if no more coaches pointed fingers at referees? It remains astonishingly true that players are allowed to make mistakes but not referees, their fellow human beings.
There is so much that is wonderful about this World Cup in Japan, not least the positive contribution of the Japanese people as hosts, spectators and supporters. There has been some wonderful rugby, and yet too often referees are abused. It almost seems that they are being thrown to the wolves.
Let us fervently hope that this week’s match officials will have a change to enjoy their matches, even enjoying the courtesy due to human beings, if not as top performers in their activities.
There are some exciting prospects where the unexpected can continue to add spice to competition – Fiji vs Georgia, Italy vs South Africa, Argentina vs England and giant-killers Japan vs disappointing Samoa.
While focus is on happenings in Japan, club rugby in Europe is gaining momentum.
Rasta Rasivhenge, World rugby’s 2016 Referee of the Year will be refereeing his first PRO14 match, adding to his fame at Sevens, and his Test and Super Rugby achievements in the 15s game.
*In a late switch in World Cup appointments, World Rugby has moved Angus Gardner from being an assistant referee in the England-Argentina match to being an assistant referee in the Japan-Samoa game while Ben O’Keeffe moves from the latter match into Gardner’s place in the England-Argentina match.
International
World Cup
30 September 2019
Scotland vs Samoa at Kobe Misaki Stadium
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
2 October 2019
France vs USA at Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka City
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England)
New Zealand vs Canada at Oita Stadium, Japan
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gaüzère (France), Alexandre Ruiz (France)
Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
3 October 2019
Georgia vs Fiji at Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiosaka
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Matthew Carley (England)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Ireland vs Russia at Kobe Misaki Stadium
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (France), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
4 October 2019
South Africa vs Italy at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa, Japan
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Alexandre Ruiz (France)
Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England)
5 October 2019
Australia vs Uruguay at Oita Stadium
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Karl Dickson (England)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
England vs Argentina at Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Japan vs Samoa at City of Toyota Stadium, Tokyo
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees:Angus Gardner (Australia) , Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
6 October 2019
New Zealand vs Namibia at Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)
Assistant referees: Luke Pearce (England), Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England)
France vs Tonga at Kumamoto Stadium
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), Matthew Carley (England)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Women
South Africa vs Scotland at City Park, Cape Town
Referee: Amelia Luciano (USA)
Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), Bulela Qwane (South Africa)
South Africa vs Scotland at City Park Sports Ground, Cape Town,
Referee: Amber McLachlan (Australia)
Sevens
Women
This is the first of World Rugby’s 2019-20 series, taking place in Glendale Colorado.
Referees: Sara Cox (England), Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Emily Hsieh (USA), Adam Jones (Wales), Amy Perrett (Australia), Madeline Putz (Australia), Julianne Zussmann (Canada)
PRO14, Round 2
Leinster vs Ospreys at RDS Arena, Dublin
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Stuart Gaffkin (Ireland), Mark Patton (Ireland)
Television match official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
Timekeeper: Andrew Baird (Ireland)
Glasgow Warriors vs Scarlets at Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Ben Blain (Scotland), Chris Busby (Ireland)
Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Southern Kings vs Munster at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Dan Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Mike Adamson (Scotland), Paul Mente (South Africa)
Television match official: Christie du Preez (South Africa)
Cardiff Blues vs Edinburgh at Cardiff Arms Park
Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse (Wales), Robert O’Sullivan (Ireland)
Television match official: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Zebre vs Dragons at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi. Parma
Referee: Sean Gallagher (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (Italy), Jonny Erskine (Ireland)
Television match official: Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Cheetahs vs Ulster at Free State Stadium
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
Assistant referees: Craig Evans (Wales), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
Television match official: Johan Greeff (South Africa)
Connacht vs Benetton at Sportsground, Galway
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Sam Grove-White, Ian Kenny (Scotland)
Television match official: Charles Samson (Ireland)
Timekeeper: James Langan (Ireland)
Assessor: Bertie Smith (Ireland)
Domestic
Australia
National Rugby Championship
Canberra Vikings vs Sydney
Referee: Brett Cronan
Assistant referees: Graham Cooper, Reuben Keane
Television match official: James Hagan
Melbourne Rising vs Fijian Drua
Referee: Jordan Way
Assistant referees: Oliver Kellett, Shannon Mclachlan
Queensland Country vs NSW Country Eagles
Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant referees: Aaron Pook, Nicholas Leask
Force vs Brisbane City
Referee: James Quinn
Assistant referees: Mark Sherriff, Kyle Burnett
Under-19
Barbarians vs Samoa Schools at Knox Grammar
Referee: Thomas Nicholl
Assistant referees: MitchellDe Lorenzo, Jackson Brislan
Western Australia vs Barbarians at AIS Multi Purpose Fields
Referee: Reuben Keane
Assistant referees: Brodie Ingram, tba
England
Premiership
Worcester Warriors vs Exeter Chiefs
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe, Paul Dix
Television match official: Keith Lewis
Timekeeper: Mike Hamlin
Assessor: Martin Fox Neil Chivers
Sale Sharks vs Wasps
Referee: Adam Leal
Assistant referees: Neil Chivers, Steve Lee
Timekeeper: Nick Edwards
Assessor: Andrew Vertigan
Harlequins vs Gloucester
Referee: Fergus Kirby
Assistant referees: Gareth Holsgrove, Rob Warburton
Assessor: David Morgan
Timekeeper: John Burtenshaw
Bath vs Leicester Tigers
Referee: Andrew Jackson
Assistant referees: Simon McConnell, Roy Maybank
Timekeeper: Laurie Bryant
Assessor: Brian Campsall
Northampton Saints vs Saracens
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant referees: Adam Leal, Philip Watters
Television match official: Claire Hodnett
Timekeeper: Paul Box
Assessor: Gary Welsh
Bristol Bears vs London Irish
Referee: Michael Hudson
Assistant referees: Jonathan Healy, Lionel Spooner
Timekeeper: Eric Bullion
Assessor: Steve Leyshon
Championship, Round 2
Coventry vs Ealing Trailfinders
Referee: Hamish Smales
Assistant referees: Simon Adams, Peter Allan
Assessor: Christ White
London Scottish vs Yorkshire Carnegie
Referee: George Selwood
Assistant referees: Bill Burton, Nigel Carrick
Assessor: Jerry Wallis
Nottingham vs Cornish Pirates
Referee: Matthew Turvey
Assistant referees: Tim Wigglesworth, Greg Garner
Assessor: Peter Farrell
Hartpury University vs Newcastle Falcons
Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant referees: Ian Bibey, Peter Brunt
Assessor: Sam Collins / Robin Goodliffe
Doncaster Knights vs Jersey Reds
Referee: Jack Makepeace
Assistant referees: John Meredith, Gregg Dawson
Assessor: Nigel Yates
Bedford Blues vs Ampthill
Referee: Simon Harding
Assistant referees: Jamie Leahy, Shane Lewis
Assessor: Lloyd Jackson
Women’s Premiership
Wasps Ladies vs Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Referee: Laura Pettingale
Assistant referees: Tom Bird, Christopher Bartlett
Assessor: Mike Winnell
Loughborough Lightning vs Saracens Women
Referee: Richard Haughton
Assessor: JP Doyle
Firwood Waterloo Ladies vs Bristol Bears Women
Referee: Chris Bloomfield
Assistant referees: Kieron Henry, tbc
Assessor: Michael Patz
Richmond vs Worcester Warriors Women
Referee: Hamish Grant
Assistant referees: Toby Rowe, tbc
Assessor: Chris White
Harlequins Women vs Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s
Referee: Alan Chandrachud
Assistant referees: PJ Russell, tbc
Assessor: Christophe Ridley
France
Top 14, Round 6
Clermont vs Montpellier at Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin
Referee: Maxime Chalon
Assistant referees: Jonathan Gasnier, Christophe Gaillardon
Television match official: Ludovic Sclafer
Brive vs Toulouse at Stadium Municipal
Referee: Laurent Cardona
Assistant referees: Julien Castaignède, Thierry Devais
Television match official: Éric Gonthier
Castres Olympique vs Stade Français at Stade Pierre Fabre
Referee: Vivien Praderie
Assistant referees: Pierre Brousset, Bruno Gabaldon
Television match official: Benoît Bessot
Agen vs Bayonne at Stade Armandie
Referee: Adrien Descottes
Assistant referees: Vincent Blasco Baqué, Sylvain Jaymes
Television match official: Philippe Bonhoure
LOU Rugby vs Union Bordeaux-Bègles at Matmut Stadium Gerland
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
Assistant referees: Stéphane Boyer, Frédéric Chazal
Television match official: Akim Hadj Bachir
Pau vs Racing 92 at Stade du Hameau
Referee: Tual Trainini
Assistant referees: Pierre-Baptiste Nuchy, Mourad Gharbi Tarchouna
Television match official: Cyril Lafon
Toulon vs La Rochelle at Stade Mayol
Referee: Sébastien Minery
Assistant referees: Cédric Marchat, Jean-Claude Labarbe
Television match official: Denis Grenouillet
Pro D2, Round 6
Béziers vs Oyonnax at Stade Raoul Barrière
Referee: Benoît Rousselet
Assistant referees: David Beun, François Soucaret
Montauban vs Provence at Stade Sapiac
Referee: Laurent Millotte
Assistant referees: Jérémy Rozier, Patrick Pechambert
Vannes vs Aurillac at Stade de la Rabine
Referee: Thomas Chereque
Assistant referees: Stéphane Crapoix, Marc Lalaude
Colomiers vs Rouen Normandie at Stade Michel Bendichou
Referee: Adrien Marbot
Assistant referees: Mathieu Noirot, Didier Dayre
Carcassonne vs Nevers at Stade Albert-Domec
Referee: Flavien Hourquet
Assistant referees: Cédric Clave, Christian Coudert
Grenoble vs Valence Romans at Stade des Alpes
Referee: Hervé Lasausa Lespy Labaylette
Assistant referees: Frédéric Masse, Walter Prache
Biarritz vs Mont-de-Marsan at Parc des Sports d’Aguilera
Referee: Luc Ramos
Assistant referees: Frédéric Bouzac, Norbert Roche
Perpignan vs Angoulême at Stade Aimé Giral
Referee: Jean Lespes
Assistant referees: Thierry Mallet, Denis Daste
Ireland
All Ireland League, Division 1
Ballynahinch vs Terenure at Ballymacarn
Referee: Kieran Barry
Cork Constitution vs Garryowen at Temple Hill
Referee: Nigel Correll
Navan vs St. Mary’s College at Balreask Old
Referee: Daniel Carson
Shannon vs Old Belvedere at Thomond Park
Referee: Oisin Quinn
Old Wesley vs Banbridge at Energia Park
Referee: Chris Harrington
Highfield vs Malone at Woodleigh Park
Referee: Paul Haycock
Armagh vs Naas at Palace Grounds
Referee: Shane Kierans
Young Munster vs Clontarf at Tom Clifford Park
Referee: Richard Horgan
Lansdowne vs University College Dublin at Lansdowne Road
Referee: Eddie Hogan-O’Connell
Dublin University vs University College Cork at College Park
Referee: Stuart Gaffkin
Cork Constitution vs Garryowen at Temple Hill
Referee: Nigel Correll
Italy
Coppa Italia, Round 2
Valorugby Emilia vs Lyons
Rovigo vs Colorno
Petrarca vs Mogliano
Fiamme Oro vs Lazio
New Zealand
Mire 10 Cup, Week 9
Tasman vs Northland at Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Referee: Hugh Reed
Waikato vs Taranaki at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Referee: James Munro
Counties Manukau vs Hawkes Bay at Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe
Referee: Mike Winter
North Harbour vs Wellington at North Harbour Stadium
Referee: Tipene Cottrell
Bay of Plenty vs Manawatu at Tauranga Domain, Tauranga
Referee: Dan Waenga
Auckland vs Southland at Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Tim Griffiths
Otago vs Canterbury (Ranfurly Shield) at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Referee: Glen Jackson
Heartland Championship, Week 7
Thames Valley vs South Canterbury at Paeroa
Wairarapa Bush vs Horowhenua Kapiti at Masterton
Wanganui vs King Country at Wanganui
West Coast vs Buller at Greymouth
North Otago vs Mid Canterbury at Oamaru
Poverty Bay vs East Coast at Gisborne
Farah Palmer Cup
North Harbour Hibiscus vs Taranaki Whio
Hawke’s Bay Tuis vs Otago Spirit
BOP Volcanix vs Manawatu Cyclones
Northland Kauri vs Tasman Mako
Auckland Storm vs Counties Power Heat
Scotland
Premiership, Round 5
Currie Chieftains vs Edinburgh Academical
Referee: David Sutherland
Assistant referees: Ross Mabon, Bob Nevins
GHA vs Glasgow Hawks
Referee: Ben Blain
Assistant referees: Lee Fish, Alistair Watt
Assessor: Gordon Mcmurray
Hawick vs Marr
Referee: Keith Allen
Assistant referees: Ruairidh Campbell, Brian Mcguff
Assessor: Peter Robertson
Musselburgh vs Aberdeen Grammar
Referee: Finlay Brown
Assistant referees: Stuart Wright, Willie Anderson
Selkirk vs Jed Forest
Referee: Graeme Ormiston
Assistant referees: Calum Lazenby, David Changleng
South Africa
Under-19 Championship Final
Western Province vs Blue Bulls at City Park, Cape Town
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistant referees: Dylan November, Aimee Barrett-Theron
Spain
División de Honor, Round 4
UBU-Colina Clinic vs VRAC Quesos Entrepinares
Referee: Iñaki Munoz
Alcobendas vs UE Santboiana
Referee: David Castro
Independiente vs Hernani
Referee: Roger Parera
El Salvador vs Ordizia
Referee: Marc Riera
Bathco vs Complutense Cisneros
Referee: Iñigo Atorrasagasti
Barça vs Ciencias Cajasol Olavide
Referee: Alfonso Mirat
Wales
Championship
Narberth vs Pontypool
Referee: Carwyn Williams
Cross Keys vs Glamorgan Wanderers
Referee: Jason Morris
Trebanos vs Ystrad Rhondda
Referee: Jason Bessant
Beddau vs Maesteg Quins
Referee: John Darcy
Neath vs Bedwas
Referee: Richard Deacy
Ystalyfera vs Cardiff Met
Referee: Jonathan Evans
Bargoed vs Tata Steel
Referee: Aaron Parry
Celtic Cup – Under-23
Cardiff Blues vs Scarlets at Cardiff Arms Park
Referee: Mike English
Assistant referees: Ben Breakspear, Neil Perkins
Dragons vs Ospreys at Abergavenny RFC
Referee: Gareth John
Assistant referees: Gareth Newman, Richard Brace
