Referees to 4 April 2016
For some there is the possibility of championship; for others the grim prospect relegation. But then the poet said that April was the cruellest month. It and May will most certainly produce more sorrow from disappointments than joy from triumph.
One referee who will be excited and apprehensive at the same time will be Rasta Rasivhenge who will be refereeing his very first Super Rugby match. Last year, when he was still 29 he became the youngest referee ever to referee a Currie Cup Final and did it with aplomb but then he has been round the world refereeing and may just be the best known Sevens referee on the circuit, having refereed the World Cup Sevens Final and 12 other finals.
Referees all over will wish Rasta Rasivhenge well when the Sunwolves come to play the Kings in Port Elizabeth and for his future in Super Rugby and higher.
In Caerphilly the inaugrual Under-18 Five Nations is taking place.
International
European Nations Cup
Division 2A
Israel vs Czech Republic at Wingate Institute, Netanya
Referee: Elia Rizzo (Italy)
Under-18
Five Nations
Ireland vs Scotland at Ystrad Mynach Centre
Referee: Ben Blain (England)
Italy vs Wales at Ystrad Mynach Centre
Referee: Matthew Turvey (England)
Italy vs Ireland at Ystrad Mynach Centre
Referee: Ross Mabon (Scotland)
Scotland vs England at Ystrad Mynach Centre
Referee: Aled Evans (Wales)
Ireland vs England at Ashbourne RFC
Referee: Pierre Baptiste Nuchy (France)
Assiostant referees: Jonny Erskine (Ireland), George Selwood (England)
European Championship
Conference 1
Moldova vs Serbia
Hungary vs Denmark
Andorra vs Croatia
Conference 2
Slovakia vs Bulgaria
Israel vs Malta
Slovenia vs Bosnia & Herzegovina
Super Rugby, Round 6
Highlanders vs Force at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Referee: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Nick Briant (New Zealand), Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Television match official: Chris Wratt (New Zealand)
Lions vs Crusaders at Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
Television match official: Johan Greeff (South Africa)
Blues vs Jaguares at QBE Stadium, North Harbour
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand), Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Brumbies vs Chiefs at GIO Stadium, Canberra
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: William Houston (Australia), James Leckie (Australia)
Television match official: Ian Smith (Australia)
Kings vs Sunwolves at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa), Rodney Bonaparte (South Africa)
Television match official: Christie du Preez (South Africa)
Bulls vs Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Shuhei Kubo (Japan), Ben Crouse (South Africa)
Television match official: Willie Vos (South Africa)
Waratahs vs Rebels at Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Andrew Lees (Australia)
Assistant referees: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia), Michael Hogan (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Pro 12, Round 19
Newport Gwent Dragons vs Ospreys at Rodney Parade
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Ben Whitehouse (Wales), Sean Brickell (Wales)
Television match official: Paul Adams (Wales)
Edinburgh vs Zebre at Murrayfield
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Assistant referees: Sam Grove-White (Scotland), Graeme Ormiston (Scotland)
Television match official: Charles Samson (Scotland)
Ulster vs Connacht at Kingspan Stadium
Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Gary Conway (Ireland), Nigel Correll (Ireland)
Television match official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
Scarlets vs Cardiff Blues at Parc y Scarlets
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant referees: Wayne Davies (Wales), Greg Morgan (Wales)
Television match official: Jon Mason (Wales)
Benetton Treviso vs Glasgow Warriors at Stadio Monigo
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Claudio Blessano (Italy), Gregorio Piran (Italy)
TMO: Stefano Pennè (Italy)
Leinster vs Munster at Aviva Stadium
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
Assistant referees: David Wilkinson (Ireland), Mark Patton (Ireland)
Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Domestic
England
Premiership
Bath vs Saracens
Referee: Gregory Garner
Assistant referees: Simon McConnell, Paul Dix
Television match official: Graham Hughes
Timekeeper: Matthew Peters
Assessor: Rowly Williams
London Irish vs Sale Sharks
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant referees: Roger Baileff, Roy Maybank
Television match official: Sean Davey
Timekeeper: Malcolm Sinclair
Assessor: Nigel Yates
Exeter Chiefs vs Worcester
Referee: Thomas Foley
Assistant referees: Gareth Copsey, Ross Campbell
Television match official: Keith Lewis
Timekeeper: Laurie Bryant
Assessor: Jerry Wallis
Harlequins vs Newcastle Falcons
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant referees: Andy Watson, Kelvin Stewart
Television match official: Rowan Kitt
Timekeeper: Robert Ockenden
Assessor: Martin Fox
Leicester Tigers vs Gloucester
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant referees: Nigel Carrick, Paul Burton
Television match official: David Grashoff
Timekeeper: Eric Bullion
Assessor: Andrew Vertigan
London Wasps vs Northampton Saints
Referee: Luke Pearce
Assistant referees: Andrew Jackson, Robin Goodliffe
Television match official: Geoff Warren
Timekeeper: Paul Stanley
Assessor: Gary Welsh
Championship
Moseley vs Doncaster Knights
Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant referees: Chris Sharp, Clare Daniel
Stephen Leyshon
Nottingham vs Ealing Trailfinders
Referee: Dean Richards
Assistant referees: Michael Patz, Philip Watters
London Welsh vs Yorkshire Carnegie
Referee: Matthew O'Grady
Assistant referees: Jonathan Healy, Robert Warburton
Assessor: Lloyd Jackson
Bedford Blues vs Cornish Pirates
Referee: Greg Macdonald
Assistant referees: Simon Adams, Wayne Falla
Peter Farrell
London Scottish vs Bristol
Referee: John Meredith
Assistant referees: Darryl Chapman, Matthew Daubney
Assessor: Sam Collins
Jersey vs Rotherham Titans
Referee: Michael Hudson
Assistant referees: Brian Ravenhill, Lionel Spooner
France
Top 14, Round 20
Toulon vs Clermont at Stade Vélodrome
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
Assistant referees: Thomas Charabas, Thomas Déjean
Television match official: Jean-Pierre Pellaprat
Castres vs Toulouse at Stade Jean-Pierre Antoine
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz
Assistant referees: Laurent Cardona, Thierry Guilloton
Television match official: Patrick Péchambert
Agen vs Pau at Stade Armandie
Referee: Pascal Gauzère
Assistant referees: Tual Trainini, Sébastien Hebert
Television match official: Bernard Dal Maso
Rochelais vs Stade Français at Stade Marcel Deflandre
Referee: Cyril Lafon
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès, Laurent Sclafer
Television match official: Bruno Bessot
Oyonnax vs Grenoble at Stade Charles Mathon
Referee: Romain Poite
Assistant referees: Maxime Chalon, Bruno Gabaldon
Television match official: Denis Grenouillet
Bordeaux-Bègles at Racing 92 at Matmut Atlantique
Referee: Cédric Marchat
Assistant referees: Sébastien Minery, Patrick Beuriot
Television match official: Eric Gonthier
Montpellier at Brive at Altrad Stadium
Referee: Salem Attalah
Assistant referees: Adrien Descottes, Jean-Luc Rebollal
Television match official: Hervé Dubes
Pro D2
Perpignan vs Narbonne at Stade Aime Giral
Referee: Mathieu Delpy
Assistant referees: Cédric Clave, Alain Monteux
Montauban vs Bayonne at Stade Sapiac
Referee: Laurent Millotte
Assistant referees: Thierry Mallet, Laurent Perrin
Provence vs Mont-de-Marsan at Stade Maurice David
Referee: Mathieu Noirot
Assistant referees: Jonathan Gasnier, Laurent Guillermard
Biarritz Bourgoin Parc des Sports d'Aguilera
Referee: Christine Hanizet
Assistant referees: Arnaud Blondel, Philippe Milani
Dax Carcassonne Stade Maurice Boyau
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
Assistant referees: Cédric Clave, Sylvain Jaymes
Tarbes Colomiers at Stade Maurice-Trélut
Referee: Jonathan Dufort
Assistant referees: Mathieu Delpy, Frédéric Chazal
Narbonne Béziers at Parc des Sports et de l'Amitié
Referee: Pierre Brousset
Assistant referees: Vivien Praderie, Akim Hadj Bachir
Ireland
Ulster Bank, Division 1
Garryowen vs Young Munster at Dooradoyle
Referee: Sean Gallagher
Old Belvedere vs Clontarf at Anglesea Road
Referee: Leo Colgan
St Marys vs Dublin University at Templeville Road
Referee: Frank Murphy
UL Bohemians vs Belfast Harlequins
Referee: Paul Haycock
Galwegians vs Terenure College at Crowley Park
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon
Lansdowne vs Cork Constitution at Lansdowne Road
Referee: George Clancy
UCD vs Ballynahinch at Belfield
Referee: Kieran Barry
Ballymena vs Dolphin at Eaton Park
Referee: Gary Conway
Blackrock College vs Shannon at Stradbrook
Referee: Stuart Gaffikin
Buccaneers vs Old Wesley at Dubarry Park
Referee: Andy Brace
Italy
Eccellenza, Giornata 15
Viadana 1970 vs Femi-CZ Rovigo
Referee: Matteo Liperini
Marchiol Mogliano vs Fiamme Oro Roma
Referee: Giuseppe Vivarini
IMA Lazio vs Lafert San Donà
Referee: Vincenzo Schipani
L'Aquila vs Calvisano
Referee: Luca Trentin
Petrarca Padova vs Sitav Lyons Piacenza
Referee: Stefano Bolzonella
South Africa
Friendly
Leopards XV vs Griquas XV at Gert Lubbe Stadium, Vryburg
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant referees: Local
Varsity Cup Semifinals
University of Johannesburg vs NWU Pukke at UJ Stadium, Johannesburg
Referee: Archie Sehlako
Assistant referees: Stephan Geldenhuys, Jaco Pretorius
Televisioin match official: Willie Vos
Assessor: Willie Roos
Maties vs UP-Tuks at Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Francois Pretorius
Televisioin match official: Shaun Veldsman
Assessor: Dennis Immelman
Spain
División De Honor, 19ª Jornada
Salvador vs Gernika
Referee: David Castro (Asturias)
Cisneros vs Valladolid RAC
Referee: Iñigo Atorrasagasti (Guipúzcoa)
Ordizia vs FC Barcelona
Referee: Luis Santos (León)
Alcobendas Rugby vs Independiente
Referee: Jorge Molpeceres (Barcelona)
UE Santboiana vs Hernani
Referee: Alfonso Mirat (Madrid)
Getxo vs Pozuelo
Referee: Félix Villegas (Valladolid)
División De Honor B, 21ª Jornada
Valladolid RAC “B” vs Salvador “B”
Referee: Iñaki Muñoz (Madrid)
Eibar vs Uribealdea
Referee: Alberto Ruíz Garcia (Vizcaya)
Bera Bera vs Crat A Coruña
Referee: Fernando Raposo (Valladolid)
Peña La Unica vs Aparejad Burgos
Referee: Arnaltz Bilbao (Guipúzcoa)
Vigo vs Zarautz
Referee: Adrien Rodriguez Noriega (Asturias)
Durango vs Real Oviedo
Referee: Juan Manuel Gárate (Cantabria)
Barcelona Enginyers Rugby vs BUC
Referee: Cristian Moreno (Barcelona)
CAU Valencia vs UE Santboiana “B”
Referee: Iñaki Vergara (Guipúzcoa)
Valencia vs Sant Cugat
Referee: Pablo Tornero (Jaén)
Fenix vs L’Hospitalet
Referee: José Luis Beltran (Valencia)
Sitges vs Les Abelles
Referee: Ignacio Martínez (Castellón)
Químic Rugby Barcelona vs Lavila
Referee: Joan Aloy (Gerona)
Atletico Portuense vs Union Rugby Almería
Referee: Alberto Requena (Granada)
Olímpico vs Ciencias Sevilla
Referee: Julio Aguirre (Barcelona)
Cisneros “B” vs Liceo Francés
Referee: Ruben Pardo (Madrid)
Cáceres vs Universidad Granada
Referee: José Ignacio Fernandez Soria (Madrid)
CAU Madrid vs Arquitectura
Referee: Ignacio Chaves (Madrid)
Helvetia vs Ad Ing Industriales
Referee: José Bogas (Barcelona)
USA
Pacific Rugby Premiership
Olympic Club vs Belmont Shore in San Francisco
Referee: Phil Akroyd
Assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Paul Rosenzweig
Glendale Raptors vs OMBAC in Denver
Referee: Scott Green
Assistant referees: Local
San Francisco Golden Gate vs Santa Monica in San Francisco
Referee: Kurt Weaver
Assistant referees: Local
American Rugby Premiership
Mystic River vs Boston in Boston
Referee: Haylee Slaughter
Assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Peter Watson
New York Athletic Club vs Boston Irish in New York
Referee: Jim Rogers
Assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Peter Simpson
Wales
Premiership
Aberavon vs Cross Keys
Referee: Craig Evans
Carmarthen vs Ebbw Vale
Referee: Ben Whitehouse
Pontypridd vs Neath
Referee: Dewi Phillips
Llandovery vs Newport
Referee: Daniel Jones
Cardiff vs Bridgend
Referee: Jason Bessant
Llanelli vs Bedwas
Referee: Stuart Kibble