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