Referees to 2 April 2019
March is going rapidly. Spring is springing in the north and autumn is settling in down south. And still there is rugby in both halves.
In the lovely university city of Coimbra north of Lisbon, Rugby Europe's Under-20 Championship starts.
There is "big" rugby with Heineken Cup, PRO14 and Super Rugby. That means great opportunities for referees.
In Parma, thered is the final of the Coppa Italia.
And in Perth a new international competition, Global Rapid Rugby, is having a match-up between the Force of Western Australia and the Tigers of Hong Kong. This year's matches have been labelled a Showcase Series, with the full competition amongst eight teams set to start in 2020.
The competition has a few law variations:
i. Matches last 70 minutes
ii. Time limits for scrums (1 minute) and lineouts (45 seconds to set),
iii. Defensive 22-metre area kicking change - No gain in ground ever when kicking direct to touch - even from within your 22 - the same as the World Rugby law for outside the 22.
iv. A 9-point 'power try' for attacks launched within 22 metres of the scoring team's own try line.
Appointments
International
Rugby Europe
Conference 2 North
Austria vs Finland in Vienna
Referee: Dejean Stiglic
2019 Asia Rugby Championship, Division 3 West
Qatar vs Jordan at Aspire Stadium, Doha
Lebanon vs Jordan
Referee: Aaqil Jamaldeen (Sri Lanka)
Assistant referees: Darroch Chua (Singapore), Hasantha Weranga (Sri Lanka)
Qatar vs Iran
Referee: Chen Wenyi (China)
Assistant referees: Darroch Chua (Singapore), Hasantha Weranga (Sri Lanka)
Rugby Europe Women’s Championship 2019
Spain vs Netherlands in Madrid
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Under-20
Rugby Europe's Under-20 Championship
It is taking place from 30 March to 7 April 2019 in Coimbra, Portugal.
Romania vs Netherlands
Russia vs Spain
Portugal vs France Novelle Aquitaine
Under-19
Wales vs Japan at Cardiff Arms Park
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
Under-18
France vs Italy at Marcoussis
Referee: Daniel Carson (Ireland)
England vs France at Cheshunt, Hertfordshire
European Professional Club Rugby
Heineken Champions Cup Quarterfinals
Edinburgh vs Munster at Murrayfield
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)
Assistant referees: Ludovic Cayre (France), Jonathan Dufort (France)
Television match official: Eric Gauzins (France)
Citing commissioner: Paul Hull (England)
Saracens Glasgow Warriors at Allianz Park
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse (Wales), Ian Davies (Wales)
Television match official: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Timekeeper: John Burtenshaw (England)
Citing commissioner: Eugene Ryan (Ireland)
Leinster vs Ulster at Aviva Stadium
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Pierre Brousset (France), Vincent Blasco Baqué (France)
Television match official: Denis Grenouillet (France)
Timekeeper: Andrew Baird (Ireland)
Citing commissioner: Shaun Gallagher (England)
Racing vs Toulouse at Paris La Défense Arena
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Tom Foley (England)
Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England)
Citing commissioner: Tim Lowry (Ireland)
Challenge Cup Quarterfinals
Sale Sharks vs Connacht at AJ Bell Stadium
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Thomas Charabas (France), Laurent Cardona (France)
Television match official: Éric Briquet-Campin (France)
Timekeeper: Mike Hamlin (England)
Citing commissioner: Paul Thomas (Wales)
Worcester Warriors vs Harlequins at Sixways
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
Assistant referees: Maxime Chalon (France), Cédric Marchat (France)
Television match official: Philippe Bonhoure (France)
Timekeeper: Eric Bullion (England)
Citing commissioner: John Montgomery (Scotland)
La Rochelle vs Bristol Bears at Stade Marcel Deflandre
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Frank Murphy (Ireland), Sean Gallagher (Ireland)
Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Citing commissioner: Stefano Marrama (Italy)
Clermont Auvergne vs Northampton Saints at Stade Marcel-Michelin
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), Joy Neville (Ireland)
Television match official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
Citing commissioner: Peter Ferguson (Ireland)
Super Rugby, Round 7
NSW Waratahs vs Sunwolves at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Egon Seconds (South Africa)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Hurricanes vs Crusaders at Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Damon Murphy, Nick Hogan (New Zealand)
Television match official: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)
Blues vs Stormers at Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Jaguares vs Chiefs at Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Pablo Deluca (Argentina), Damian Schneider (Argentina)
Television match official: Santiago Borsani (Argentina)
Sharks vs Bulls at Kings Park, Durban
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
Television match official: Christie du Preez (South Africa)
Queensland Reds vs Melbourne Rebels at Suncorp Stadium
Referee: AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Nicholas Berry (Australia), Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Television match official: James Leckie (Australia)
Global Rapid Rugby
Western Force vs South China Tigers at HBF Arena Sportsplex
Referee: Aaron Pook (Australia)
Assistant referees: Graham Cooper (Australia), Mark Sherriff (Australia)
Television match official: Kyle Burnett (Australia)
Domestic
Australia
Women's Super Rugby
Queensland vs Brumbies at Ballymore
Referee: Amber McLachlan
Assistant referees: Lara West, Jeremy Markey
England
Championship
Hartpury College vs Bedford Blues
Referee: Adam Leal
Assistant referees: Jamie Leahy, Simon Park
Assessor: Lloyd Jackson/Peter Huckle
Ealing Trailfinders vs Nottingham
Referee: Fergus Kirby
Assistant referees: Dean Richards, Lionel Spooner
Assessor: David Morgan/Robin Goodliffe
Richmond vs Jersey Reds
Referee: Hamish Smales
Assistant referees: Jonathan Healy, Gareth Holsgrove
Assessor: Christopher White
Doncaster Knights vs London Scottish
Referee: John Meredith
Assistant referees: Matt Turvey, Peter Allan
Assessor: Peter Farrell
Cornish Pirates vs London Irish
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant referees: Sara Cox, Clare Daniels
Assessor: Sam Collins
Yorkshire Carnegie vs Coventry
Referee: Simon Harding
Assistant referees: Gregory Garner, Ian John Bibey
Assessor: Stephen Leyshon
Women's Premiership
Worcester Valkyries vs Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Referee: Callum Watson
Assistant referees: Philip Hallsworth, Stephen Gammage
Harlequins Ladies vs Gloucester-Hartpury Women's
Referee: Charles Gayther
Assistant referees: Christopher Bartlett, James Pidding
Saracens Women vs Firwood Waterloo Ladies
Referee: Katherine Ritchie
Assistant referees: James Davies, Matthew Shepherd
Richmond vs Loughborough Lightning
Referee: Laura Pettingale
Assistant referees: Tracy Pettingale, tba
Wasps Ladies vs Bristol Bears Women
Referee: Richard Haughton
Assistant referees: Henry Lowis, Mark Summerhayes
France
Pro D2, Round 26
Provence Rugby vs Nevers at Stade Maurice David
Referee: Flavien Hourquet
Assistant referees: Régis Guatelli, Walter Prache
Angoulême vs Béziers at Stade Chanzy
Referee: Benoît Rousselet
Assistant referees: Vivien Praderie, Norbert Roche
Massy vs Montauban at Stade Jules Ladoumègue
Referee: Frédéric Bouzac
Assistant referees: Stéphane Crapoix, Christophe Gaillardon
Bourg-en-Bresse vs Aurillac at Stade Marcel Verchère
Referee: Ludovic Carrillo
Assistant referees: Laurent Millotte, Francis Giacomini
Vannes vs Bayonne at Stade de la Rabine
Referee: Cédric Clave
Assistant referees: Éric Gleyze, Gislain Elias
Colomiers vs Carcassonne at Stade Michel Bendichou
Referee: Mathieu Delpy
Assistant referees: Pierre Puharre, Jérôme Favre
Biarritz vs Oyonnax at Parc des Sports d'Aguilera
Referee: Hervé Lasausa Lespy Labaylette
Assistant referees: Nicolas Datas, Denis Daste
Brive vs Mont-de-Marsan at Stadium Municipal
Referee: Thierry Mallet
Assistant referees: Jonathan Gasnier, Sylvain Jaymes
Italy
Coppa Italia Final
Emilia vs Padova at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
Referee: Federico Boraso
South Africa
Gold Cup Quarterfinals
College Rovers vs Durbell at Kings Park
Referee: Archie Sehlako
Naka Bulls vs Swallows at ABE Midas Naka Bulls RFC, Pretoria
Referee: Griffin Colby
Impala vs Welkom at Impala Rugby Club, Rustenburg
Referee: Vusi Msibi
Rhinos vs Gardens Uitenhage at Northam Platinum Recreation Club, Setaria, Thabazimbi
Referee: Paul Mente
Varsity Cup, Round 9
Maties and Tukkies are certain of home semifinals.
Shimlas vs UJ at Shimla Park
Referee: Paul Mente
Pukke vs Wits at Fanie Du Toit Sports, Potchefstroom
Referee: Griffin Colby
Television match official: Lourens van der Merwe
Maties vs UWC at Danie Craven Stadium
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant referees: Nathan Swartz, Bennie Bothma
Timekeeper: Johan Willemse
UCT vs CUT
Referee: Ruhan Meiring
Assistant referees: Nathan Barry, Wickus Nell
Timekeeper: Arthur Southgate
Television match official: Joey Klaaste-Salmans
Young Guns
Maties vs UWC at Danie Craven Stadium
Referee: Nathan Swartz
Assistant referees: Bennie Bothma, Waleed Moerat
Timekeeper: Johan Willemse
UCT vs CUT at UCT Rugby Fields
Referee: Nathan Barry
Assistant referees: Wickus Nell, Lloyd Hagglund
Timekeeper: Arthur Southgate
Spain
División De Honor, Round 20
Gernika vs UE Santboiana
Referee: Iñaki Muñoz (Madrid)
Assistant referees: Pedro Pérez Gómez, José Maria Ferdinández Soria
Alcobendas vs VRAC Valladolid
Referee: Pedro Montoya (Álava)
Assistant referees: Manuel Bartolome, Erlantz Morentin
Indepen Santander vs Hernani
Referee: Marc Riera (Barcelona)
Assistant referees: Malcolm Van Steeden, Alexandre Mullor
Ordizia vs La Vila
Referee: David Castro (Asturias)
Assistant referees: Belarmino Álvarez, Andrés Noriega
La Vila vs Cisneros
Referee: Eki Fanlo (Guipúzcoa)
Assistant referees: Andoni Susperregi, Iñaki Muñoz
FC Barcelona vs Aparejad Burgos
Referee: Inigo Atorrasagasti (Guipúzcoa)
Assistant referees: Aldai Ibisate, Juan Cruz Peña
USA
Major League Rugby, Round 10
Austin Elite vs United New York in San Antonio
Referee: Luke Rogan
Assistant referees: Mike O'Brien, Kat Roche
Glendale Raptors vs New Orleans Gold in Denver
Referee: Paul-Henri Courbier
Assistant referees: Moe Chaudhry, Cam Petitt
Utah Warriors vs Toronto Arrows in Salt Lake City
Referee: Derek Summers
Assistant referees: Lex Weiner, Kage Green
Seattle Seawolves vs San Diego Legion in Seattle
Referee: Elgan Williams (Wales)
Assistant referees: Robin Kaluzniak, Lee Bryant
Wales
Premiership
Llanelli vs Cross Keys
Referee: Gwyn Morris
Assistant referees: Simon Mills, Richard Hughes
Neath vs Carmarthen
Referee: Tom Spurrier
Assistant referees: Jonathan Evans, Simon Harris
Welsh National Cup Quarterfinals
Merthyr vs Pontypridd
Referee: Craig Evans
Assistant referees: Simon Rees, Chris Williams
Television match official: Jon Mason
Llandovery vs Swansea
Referee: Gareth Newman
Assistant referees: Stephen Allsop, Jamie Morgan
Pontypool vs Bridgend
Referee: Elgan Williams
Assistant referees: Richard Deacy, Tim Davies
Cardiff vs Bedwas
Referee: Dewi Phillips
Assistant referees: Wayne Davies, Lee Parry