Referees near Christmas
The dedicated few
Christmas is at hand. In the hot parts of the Southern Hemisphere they sing See amid the Winter's Snows and eat gargantuan meals, but they do not play rugby.
Rugby plods on in some abstemious bits north of the equator with festivities hedged around by the needs of serious rugby, but at club level. Most seem happy to celebrate and let the New Year bring resolutions of dedication.
In Taiwan, there is the Asian Under-19 tournament but for the rest life is quiet.
International
Asian RFU
Under-19 tournament
Referees: Scott Herbert (Arabian Gulf), Brian Killen (Brunei), WC WU (Chinese Taipei), Patrick Kwok (Hong Kong), Yoshiyuki Nino (Japan), Sung Woon Hwang (Korea), Abdul Hamid Sauh (Malaysia), Jay Savage (Philippines), George Danaoal (Singapore), D Nimal (Sri Lanka), Narongdej Thaymuang (Thailand).
Under-16
Arabian Gulf vs Victoria (Australia)
Referee: Dave Harper (Abu Dhabi)
Magners League
Glasgow Warriors vs Edinburgh at Hughenden
Referee: David Changleng (Scotland)
Touch judges: Iain Heard (Scotland), Ronnie Dumma (Scotland)
Assessor: Fergus Neil (Scotland)
Llanelli Scarlets vs Dragons at Stradey Park
Referee: Phil Fear (Wales)
Touch judges: Hugh Watkins (Wales), Richard Hughes (Wales)
Cardiff Blues vs Ospreys at the Arms Park
Referee: Tim Hayes (Wales)
Touch judges: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales), Huw David (Wales)
England
Premiership
Bath vs Sale Sharks at the Recreation Ground
Referee: Ashley Rowden
Touch judges: Ashley Reay, Andrew Pearce
Television match official: Laurie Bryant
Gloucester vs Newcastle Falcons at Kingsholm
Referee: Rob Debney
Touch judges: Peter Huckle, Paul Dickens
Brian Leigh
Television match official: Matt Peters
Leicester Tigers vs Bristol at Welford Road
Referee: Tony Spreadbury
Touch judges: Robin Goodliffe, Alan Hughes
Coach: Clive Leeke
Television match official: Brian Abrahams
Harlequins vs Saracens at The Stoop
Referee: Sean Davey
Touch judges: Stuart Terheege, Kevin Stewart
Assessor: Brian Campsall
Television match official: John Burtenshaw
Northampton Saints vs London Wasps at Franklin's Gardens
Referee: David Rose
Touch judges: Paul Dix, Paul Emerson
Television match official: Bob Ockenden, Graham Hughes
Worcester Warriors vs London Irish at Sixways
Referee: Roy Maybank
Touch judges: Bob Mullis, Steve Savage
Assessor: Ed Morrison
Television match official: David Hudson
London Irish vs Leicester Tigers at Madejski Stadium
Referee: David Rose
Touch judges: Ashley Reay, Bob Mullis
Television match official: John Burtenshaw
National League 1
Doncaster vs Earth Titans
Referee: tba
Touch judges: Richard Draper, Rob Sawyer
Exeter Chiefs vs Newbury
Referee: Dale Newitt
Touch judges: Richard Parker-Sedgemore, Kevin Obern
Assessor: Roger Quittenton
Leeds Tykes vs Otley
Referee: Rowan Kitt
Touch judges: Chris Sharp, Steve Makinson
Assessor: Andy McMillan
Pertemps Bees vs Coventry
Referee: Greg Garner
Touch judges: Ed Turnil, Dave Grashoff
Assessor: Paul Emberson, Geraint Davies
Sedgley Park vs Waterloo
Referee: Nick Williams
Touch judges: Gareth Copsey, Barry Dalby
Assessor: Ian Roberts
Nottingham vs Moseley
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint Roberts
Touch judges: Mark Wilson, Fred Farndon
Assessor: Peter Farrell
France
Top 14 - 17ème journée
Biarritz vs Toulouse
Referee: Jean-Christophe Gastou
Touch judges: Henri Claverie, Jacques Laplace
Assessor: Daniel Gillet
Goal judges: Stephan Pomarède, Jean-Marie Piraveau
Montpellier vs Clermont Auvergne
Referee: Joël Jutge
Touch judges: Patrick Dellac, Franck Florens
Assessor: Patrick Robin
Goal judges: Alain Monteux, Laurent Delorme
Albi vs Brive
Referee: Frank Maciello
Touch judges: Maurice Duny, Gilbert Darrieutort
Assessor: Joël Dumé
Goal judges: Pascal Gauzere, René Roustany
Stade Français vs Narbonne
Referee: Eric Darrière
Touch judges: Didier Dussaut, Jean-Christophe Clot
Assessor: Marc Daroque
Goal judges: Christophe Dutreuilh, Pascal Moreau
Perpignan vs Bayonne
Referee: Bernard Dal Maso
Touch judges: Pierre Masson, Didier Barnagaud
Assessor: Marc Desclaux
Goal judges: Cédric Marchat, Stéphane Boyer
Montauban vs Bourgoin
Referee: Christophe Berdos
Touch judges: Patrick Bellet, Claude Tajan
Assessor: Serge Marzullo
Goal judges: Jérôme Lamirand, Nicolas Datas
Agen vs Castres
Referee: Didier Mene
Touch judges: Bernard Vals, Didier Bart
Assessor: Michel Lamoulie
Goal judges: Laurent Sclafer, Mathieu Raynal
Italy
Super 10
Cammi Calvisano vs Overmach Parma
Referee: Paulo Ventura (Roma)
Touch judges: Stefano Pennè (Milano), Pietro Maggioni (Milano)
Amatori Catania vs Benetton Treviso
Referee: Claudio Passacantando (L’Aquila)
Touch judges: Stefano Mancini (Frascati), Roberto Orlandini (Roma)
Femi CZ Rovigo vs Infinito L’Aquila
Referee: Carlo Damasco (Napoli)
Touch judges: Domenico Sironi (Colleferro), Francesco Commone (Napoli)
Rolly Gran Parma vs Almaviva Ur Capitolina
Referee: Maurizio Vancini (Milano)
Touch judges: Nereo Dordolo (Udine), Pio Di Santo (Milano)
Carrera Petrarca Padova vs Arix Viadana
Referee: Mauro Dordolo (Udine)
Touch judges: Alessandro Cason (Rovigo), Stefano Rebuschi (Rovigo)
Scotland
Premiership
Heriots vs Currie at Goldenacre
Referee: Malcolm Changleng
Touch judges: Graeme Hannah, Alistair Cummings
Watsonians vs Boroughmuir at Myreside
Referee: John Steele
Touch judges: Neil Paterson, Alan Forrest
Hawick vs Melrose at Mansfield Park
Referee: Peter Allan
Touch judges: Colin Brett, John Ferns
Aberdeen GSFP vs Dundee HSFP at Rubislaw
Referee: Paul Burr
Touch judges: David Jack, Jim Oswald
Assessor: Ian McLean
Glasgow Hawks vs Ayr at Old Anniesland
Referee: Andy Macpherson
Touch judges: Graham Knox, Peter Carruthers
Assessor: Johnny Bacigalupo