Appointments to 2019 Women's Tests
World Rugby has announced the appointment of referees to Women's Test matches between June and August this year.
There are three groups of Tests, the first the Super Series to be played in San Diego on the southern coast of California, the second the series involving Australia, Japan and New Zealand and the third a series of matches in Johannesburg to establish the African country qualified for the next Women's World Cup in New Zealand in 2021.
The 11 referees appointed to the 20 Tests are Saudah Adiru (Uganda), Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), Sara Cox (England), Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Aurélie Groizeleau (France), Amelia Luciano (USA), Rebecca Mahoney (New Zealand), Ashleigh Murray (South Africa), Joy Neville (Ireland), Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe) and Amy Perrett (Australia)
By country there are two from South Africa and one each from Australia, England, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Uganda, USA and Zimbabwe.
Aimee Barrett-Theron played rugby for South Africa, Rebecca Mahoney for New Zealand and Joy Neville for Ireland whose captain she was. Precious Pazani crossed over from basketball to rugby, played for Zimbabwe and then started refereeing. Scrumhalf Hollie Davidson played for Scotland Under-20 and was chosen for the senior team but missed out because of a shoulder injury and did not get another chance.
The performance reviewer, Alhambra Nievas, played for Spain, refereed Test matches and the women's final at the 2016 Olympic Games and received World Rugby's Referee of the Year award.
The performance reviewer Wayne Erickson, a prop forward in his playing days and refereed Test matches in his refereeing career, as did Robert Davies.
The Appointments
Women's Rugby Super Series
The countries taking part make up the top five countries as ranked by World Rugby. The rankings are as follows:
1. New Zealand
2. England
3. Canada
4. France
5. USA
28 June 2019
England vs USA at Chula Vista Elite Center, San Diego
Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Aurélie Groizeleau (France)
Assessor: Wayne Erickson (Australia)
Canada vs New Zealand at Chula Vista Elite Center, San Diego
Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistant referees: Amelia Luciano (USA), Kat Roche (USA)
Assessor: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
2 July 2019
France vs Canada at Chula Vista Elite Center, San Diego
Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistant referees: Amelia Luciano (USA), Kat Roche (USA)
Assessor: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
New Zealand vs USA at Chula Vista Elite Center, San Diego
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Joy Neville (Ireland), Aurélie Groizeleau (France)
Assessor: Wayne Erickson (Australia)
6 July 2019
France vs New Zealand at Chula Vista Elite Center, San Diego
Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), Amelia Luciano (USA)
Assessor: Wayne Erickson (Australia)
Canada vs England at Chula Vista Elite Center, San Diego
Referee: Amy Perrett (Australia)
Assistant referees: Aurélie Groizeleau (France), Kat Roche (USA)
Assessor: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
10 July 2019
England vs France at Chula Vista Elite Center, San Diego
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Emily Hsieh (USA), Julianne Zussmann (Canada)
Assessor: Robert Davies (Wales)
Canada vs USA at Chula Vista Elite Center, San Diego
Referee: Rebecca Mahoney (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Amy Perrett (Australia), Hayley Aguiar (USA)
Assessor: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
14 July 2019
France vs USA at Torero Stadium, San Diego
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Rebecca Mahoney (New Zealand), Julianne Zussmann (Canada)
Television match official: Amanda Cox (USA)
Assessor: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
New Zealand vs England at Torero Stadium, San Diego
Referee: Amy Perrett (Australia)
Assistant referees: Emily Hsieh (USA), Hayley Aguiar (USA)
Television match official: Davey Ardrey (USA)
Assessor: Robert Davies (Wales)
Women's Mid-Year Tests in Australasia
13 July 2019
Australia vs Japan in Newcastle, Australia
Referee: Amelia Luciano (USA)
Assistant referees: Aurélie Groizeleau (France), Local
Assessor: Nicky Ewins (New Zealand)
19 July 2019
Australia vs Japan at North Sydney Oval
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France)
Assistant referees: Amelia Luciano (USA), Local
Assessor: Wayne Erickson (Australia)
10 August 2019
Australia vs New Zealand at Optus Stadium, Perth, Australia
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Nicky Ewins (New Zealand)
17 August 2019
New Zealand vs Australia at Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Amelia Luciano (USA), Local
Assessor: Robert Davies (Wales)
African Qualifiers for the Women's Rugby World Cup
This series of matches will be played in Johannesburg
9 August 2019
Madagascar vs Kenya
Referee: Saudah Adiru (Uganda)
Assessor: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
South Africa vs Uganda
Referee: Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe)
Assessor: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
13 August 2019
Kenya vs Uganda
Referee: Ashleigh Murray (South Africa)
Assessor: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
Madagascar vs South Africa
Referee: Saudah Adiru (Uganda)
Assessor: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
17 August 2019
Madagascar vs Uganda
Referee: Ashleigh Murray (South Africa)
Assessor: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
South Africa vs Kenya
Referee: Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe)
Assessor: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)