Women's World Cup referees

Ayoub to start

This opens in Edmonton on Thursday, 31 August 2006.

Test referee George Ayoub is the referee for the opening encounter of the Women's Rugby World Cup when hosts Canda play champions New Zealand.

The referees at the tournament are:

Women referees:  Jenny Bentel (South Africa), Rachel Boyland (Switzerland), Sarah Corrigan (Australia), Clare Daniels (England), Christine Hanizet (France), Nicky Inwood (New Zealand), Joyce Henry (Canada), Kerstin Ljungdahl (Germany)

Women touch judges: Debbie Innes (England), Kristina Mellor (New Zealand), Kim Smit (South Africa), Dana Teagarden (USA),

Male referees: George Ayoub (Australia), Lyndon Bray (New Zealand), Malcolm Changleng (Scotland), Simon McDowell (Ireland)

The first appointments:

Day 1

New Zealand vs Canada
Referee: George Ayoub

England vs USA
Referee: Lyndon Bray

Spain vs Scotland
Referee: Rachel Boyland

Kazakhstan vs Samoa
Referee: Clare Daniels

Ireland vs France
Referee: Jenny Bentel

Day 2

New Zealand vs Samoa
Referee: Malcolm Changleng

Spain vs Canada
Referee: Simon McDowell

Kazakhstan vs Scotland
Referee: Kerstin Ljungdahl

England vs South Africa
Referee: Sarah Corrigan

Australia vs France
Referee: Joyce Henry

Ireland vs USA
Referee: Christine Hanizet