Referees to 26 August 2018
It is the second round of SANZAAR's Rugby Championship after wins by New Zealand and South Africa in the first round.
In France the Top 14 starts. Sunday's match is a repeat of last season's final when Castres beat Montpellier.
In South Africa for the very first time a woman, Aimee Barrett-Theron, is appointed to a Currie Cup match.
Intentional
Rugby Championship
New Zealand vs Australia at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Luke Pearce (England)
Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Argentina vs South Africa at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza, Argentina
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand), Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Africa Silver Cup
Algeria vs Zambia has been postponed to 20 October 2018.
Laurie O’Reilly Memorial Trophy
Panama vs El Salvador at Estadio Olímpico José Simón Azcona , Tegucigalpa
Referee: Luis Felipe González (Guatemala)
Americas Rugby Challenge 2018
Paraguay vs Mexico at Estadio Cincuentenario, Medellin
Colombia vs Guyana at Estadio Cincuentenario, Medellin
Friendlies
Munster vs Exeter Chiefs at Irish Independent Park
Referee: John Lacey
Assistant referees: Sean Gallagher, Robert O'Sullivan
Domestic
France
Top 14, Round 1
Perpignan vs Stade Français at Stade Aimé Giral
Referee: Laurent Cardona
Assistant referees: Thomas Charabas, Richard Duhau
Television match pofficials: Denis Grenouillet
Bordeaux-Bègles vs Pau at Jacques Chaban-Delmas
Referee: Pierre Brousset
Assistant referees: Ludovic Cayre, Arnaud Blondel
Television match pofficials: Philippe Bonhoure
Lyon vs Toulouse at Matmut Stadium Gerland
Referee: tba
La Rochelle vs Grenoble at Stade Marcel Deflandre
Referee: Jonathan Dufort
Assistant referees: Julien Castaignède, Jean-Luc Rebollal
Television match pofficials: Bruno Bessot
Clermont vs Agen at Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin
Referee: Maxime Chalon
Assistant referees: Vincent Blasco Baque, Laurent Breil
Television match pofficials: Éric Gauzins
Toulon vs Racing 92 at Stade Mayol
Referee: Romain Poite
Assistant referees: Cyrille Lafon, Bruno Gabaldon
Television match pofficials: Laurent Sclafer
Montpellier vs Castres at Altrad Stadium
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
Assistant referees: Adrien Descottes, Jean-Claude Labarbe
Television match pofficials: Mourad Zitouni
Ireland
Interprovincial
Connacht vs Leinster at The Sportsground, Galway
Referee: Joy Neville
Assistant referees: Ken Imbusch, Daithi Flood
Under-18
Connacht vs Ulster at University of Limerick
Referee: Eoghan Cross
Munster vs Leinster at University of Limerick
Referee: Grainne Crabtree
Ulster Schools vs Leinster Schools at University of Limerick
Referee: Shane Kierans
New Zealand
Mitre Cup, Round 2
Counties Manukau vs Bay of Plenty
Referee: Angus Mabey
Assistant referees: Brandon Roberts, Antony Petrie
Television match pofficials: Glen Blackwell
Otago vs Hawkes Bay
Referee: Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
Assistant referees: Jono Bredin, Stuart Curran
Television match pofficials: Chris Hart
Taranaki vs Manawatu
Referee: Mike Fraser
Assistant referees: Paul Williams, Richard Kelly
Television match pofficials: Max O’Leary
Canterbury vs Wellington
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant referees: James Munro, Carl Johnson
Television match pofficials: Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri
Waikato vs North Harbour
Referee: Cam Stone
Assistant referees: Jamie Bell, Ryan Waite
Television match pofficials: Pat Rae
Tasman vs Southland
Referee: Jamie Nutbrown
Assistant referees: Mike Lash, Steffan James
Television match pofficials: Chris Wratt
Northland vs Auckland
Referee: Richard Kelly
Assistant referees: Boris Jurlina, Stephen Ball
Television match pofficials: Llew Smart
Women
Farah Palmer Cup
The women's provincial rugby championship in New Zealand started in 1999. In 2026, it was renamed the Farah Palmer Cup.
Hawkes Bay vs Wellington at Lincoln (Ashurst)
Referee: Manawatu Association referee
Counties Power Heat vs Bay of Plenty Volcanix at Massey Park
Referee: Lauren Jenner
South Africa
Currie Cup
Premier Division, Round 2
Golden Lions vs Griquas at Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Egon Seconds
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Christopher Allison
Television match pofficials: Lesego Legoete
Sharks vs Blue Bulls at Kings Park, Durban
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Archie Sehlako, Vusi Msibi
Television match pofficials: Christie du Preez
Western Province vs Free State Cheetahs at Newlands
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Nathan Swartz
Television match pofficials: Shaun Veldsman
1st Division
South Western Districts Eagles vs Leopards at Outeniqua Park Stadium, George
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron
Assistant referees: Ruhan Meiring, Local
Boland Cavaliers vs Eastern Province Elephants at Van Zyl Sportsgrounds, Robertson
Referee: Graham Cooper (Australia)
Assistant referees: Viv-Richard Adams, Curtley Booysen
Valke vs Border Bulldogs at Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
Referee: Ben Crouse
Assistant referees: Jaco Pretorius, Local
Welwitschias vs Griffons at Hage Geingob Stadium, Windhoek
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Under-21 Championship
Blue Bulls vs Western Province at Loftus Versfeld B, Pretoria
Referee: Jaco Pretorius
Assistant referees: Phumzile Mbewu, Christopher Allison
Television match pofficials: Lesego Legoete
Eastern Province Elephants vs Golden Lions at Despatch Rugby Field, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Rodney Boneparte
Assistant referees: Eduan Nel, Local
Leopards vs Free State at Fanie du Toit Sportfields, Potchefstroom
Referee: Christopher Allison
Assistant referees: Ricus van der Hoven, Local
Under-20 Championship
Boland Cavaliers vs South Western Districts Eagles at Boland Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Sindile Ngcese
Griffons vs Limpopo at Northwest Stadium, Welkom
Referee: Jaco Kotze
Under-19 Championship
Blue Bulls vs Western Province at Loftus Versfeld B, Pretoria
Referee: Phumzile Mbewu
Eastern Province Elephants vs Golden Lions at Despatch Rugby Field, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Eduan Nel
Leopards vs Free State at Fanie du Toit Sportsfields, Potchefstroom
Assistant referees: Ricus van der Hoven