Referees to 20 September 2015
The World Cup starts this week when Jaco Peyper blows his whistle.
At the end of this week, the world will stop and hold its breath. Rugby will be under the spotlight, the players will be under the spotlight and the referees will be under the spotlight. The spotlight is glorious but there are times when it can burn and if you think back over the years referees jump out only for controversial decisions they have been perceived to have made.
Let us all wish our 23 referees, their assistants and the TMOs – everything of the best, taking with them only happy memories from the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
The fortunate chosen men, who will all be enjoying the five-star Landmark Hotel in London, are:
Referees: Wayne Barnes, JP Doyle, Jérôme Garcès, Pascal Gauzère, Romain Poite, George Clancy, John Lacey, Glen Jackson, Chris Pollock, Craig Joubert, Jaco Peyper, Nigel Owens
Assistant referees: Federico Anselmi, Angus Gardner, Mathieu Raynal, Marius Mitrea, Mike Fraser, Stuart Berry, Leighton Hodges
The television match official: George Ayoub, Graham Hughes, Ben Skeen, Shaun Veldsman
All referees all over the world would love to be doing what they are doing.
One of their number is Craig Joubert of Durban, one of six referees who have refereed World Cup Finals.
Big South African news is that two up-and-coming referees will be refereeing their very first Currie Cup Premiership matches this weekend – AJ Jacobs of the Griffons and Cwengile Jadzeweni of Western Province.
Referees to 20 September 2015
International
Rugby World Cup
Friday, 18 September 2015
England vs Fiji at Twickenham
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Timekeeper: Terry Thomas (Wales)
Saturday 19 September 2015
Tonga vs Georgia at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Ireland vs Canada at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gauzère (France), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Timekeeper: Huw Lewis (Wales)
South Africa vs Japan at Brighton Community Stadium
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant referees: JP Doyle (England), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
France vs Italy at Twickenham
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Sunday 20 September 2015
Samoa vs USA at Brighton Community Stadium
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Wales vs Uruguay at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gauzère (France), Mathieu Raynal (France)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
New Zealand vs Argentina at Wembley Stadium
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: JP Doyle (England), Angus Gardner (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Police Tournament
Scotland vs Canada at Lochinch
Referee: Dunx McClement
Assistant referees: Mike Adamson, Sam Grove-White
Coach: Andy Macpherson
Australia vs Canada at Lochinch
Referee: Mike Adamson
Assistant referees: Stuart Burns, Walter Gaffney
Domestic
Australia
National Rugby Cup
UC Vikings vs Sydney Stars at Viking Park, Canberra
Referee: Damien Mitchelmore
Assistant referees: James Morris, Matt Hogan
Television match official: Sarah Corrigan
Coach: Scott Izod
Melbourne Rising vs Greater Sydney Rams at Latrobe City Sports & Entertainment Stadium, Melbourne
Referee: Matt O'Brien
Assistant referees: Oli Kellett, Shannon McLachlan
Coach: Wayne Erickson
Queensland Country vs Perth Spirit at Rugby Park, Rockhampton
Referee: Rohan Hoffmann
Assistant referees: Jordan Way, Tim Aistrope
Coach: Greg Hinton
Brisbane City vs NSW Country Eagles at Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Damien Mitchelmore, Brett Cronan
Coach: Mick Tanzer
England
Premiership Friendlies
Exeter Chiefs vs Bath
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant referees: Gregory Garner, Simon McConnell
Timekeeper: Laurie Bryant
Assessor: Rowly Williams
Leicester Tigers vs Newcastle Falcons
Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant referees: Andrew Jackson, Darren Gamage
Timekeeper: Mike Hamlin
Assessor: Andrew Vertigan
Championship
Doncaster Knights vs Jersey
Referee: Thomas Foley
Assistant referees: Andrew Small, Lionel Spooner
Assessor: Peter Farrell
London Scottish vs Bedford Blues
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant referees: Richard Kelly, Clare Daniel
Assessor: Martin Fox
Moseley vs London Welsh
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
Assistant referees: Philip Watters, Paul Dix
Assessor: Jerry Wallis
Bristol vs Nottingham
Referee: Dean Richards
Assistant referees: Ashley Rowden, Paul Burton
Assessor: Tony Spreadbury
Coach: Lloyd Jackson
Yorkshire Carnegie vs Ealing Trailfinders
Referee: Greg Macdonald
Assistant referees: Wayne Falla, Robin Goodliffe
Assessor: Gary Welsh
Cornish Pirates vs Rotherham Titans
Referee: Luke Pearce
Assistant referees: Peter Huckle, Simon Adams
Assessor: Brian Campsall
France
Matches in Top 14 and Pro D2 recommence on 17 October 2015.
Ireland
Ulster Bank League, Division 1
Clontarf vs Old Belvedere at Castle Avenue
Referee: Gary Conway
Young Munster vs Garryowen at Tom Clifford Park
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon
Ballynahinch vs UCD at Ballymacarn Park
Referee: Nigel Correll
Cork Constitution vs Lansdowne at Temple Hill
Referee: Dudley Phillips
Terenure College vs Galwegians at Lakelands Park
Referee: Eddie Hogan-O'Connell
Belfast Harlequins vs UL Bohemian at Deramore Park
Referee: Kieran Barry
Dolphin vs Ballymena at Musgrave Park
Referee: Sean Gallagher
Old Wesley vs Buccaneers at Donnybrook
Referee: Frank Murphy
Shannon vs Blackrock College at Thomond Park
Referee: Mark Patton
Under-20 Provincial
Connacht vs Munster at Sportsground
Referee: Jonny Erskine
Leinster vs Ulster at Donnybrook
Referee: Mark Connolly
Under-19 Provincial
Connacht vs Munster at Sportsground
Referee: David Horner
Leinster vs Ulster at Donnybrook
Referee: Glenn Sheridan
New Zealand
ITM Cup, Round 6
Tasman vs North Harbour at Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Referee: Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
Wellington vs Otago at Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Will Houston
Taranaki vs Waikato at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
Referee: Shane McDermott
Ranfurly Shield Match
Hawke's Bay vs Bay of Plenty at McLean Park, Napier
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe
Southland vs Manawatu at Rugby Park, Invercargill
Referee: Nick Briant
Northland vs Counties Manukau at Toll Stadium, Whangarei
Referee: Liam Scanlon
North Harbour vs Canterbury at QBE Stadium, North Harbour
Referee: Cam Stone
Tasman vs Auckland at Lansdowne Park, Blenheim
Referee: Jamie Nutbrown
Heartland Championship, Round 5
Buller vs Poverty Bay at Victoria Square, Westport
Referee: Vincent Ringrose
Horowhenua Kapiti vs North Otago at Levin Domain, Levin
Referee: Danny Morrison
Mid Canterbury vs East Coast at Ashburton Showground, Ashburton
Referee: Richard Gordon
South Canterbury vs Thames Valley at Alpine Energy Stadium, Timaru
Referee: Alistair Payne
Wanganui vs King Country at Cooks Gardens Wanganui,
Referee: James Doleman
West Coast vs Wairarapa Bush at Rugby Park, Greymouth
Referee: Michael Winter
Scotland
Premiership
Currie vs Selkirk
Referee: Graeme Wells
Assistant referees: Gordon Corry, Stephen Hart
Gala vs Ayr
Referee: Lloyd Linton
Assistant referees: Mac Duncan, Stephen Ward
Heriots vs Hawick
Referee: Graeme Ormiston
Assistant referees: Kevin White, Bob Nevins
Assessor: John Bacigalupo
Melrose vs Boroughmuir
Referee: Keith Allen
Assistant referees: Rob Dickson, Graeme Marshall
Stirling County vs Glasgow Hawks
Referee: Sam Grove-White
Assistant referees: George Pounder, Alistair Watt
South Africa
Currie Cup
Premiership
Western Province vs Blue Bulls at Newlands
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman, Lourens van der Merwe
Television match official: Marius Jonker
Pumas vs Eastern Province Kings at Mbombela stadium, Nelspruit
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, Stephan Geldenhuys
Television match official: Willie Vos
Free State vs Griquas at Free State Rugby Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant referees: Jason Jaftha, Stephan Geldenhuys
Golden Lions vs Sharks at Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Jaco van Heerden
Referee: Francois Pretorius, Jaco Kotze
Television match official: Willie Vos
Division 1
Griffons vs Valke at Northwest Stadium, Welkom
Referee: Lesego Legoete
Assistant referees: Renier Vermeulen, Oregopotse Rametsi
Boland vs South Western Districts at Boland Cavaliers Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Ben Crouse
Assistant referees: Oregopotse Rametsi, Divan Uys
Leopards vs Border at Oliën Park, Potchefstroom
Referee: Rodney Boneparte
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Eduan Nel
Central Amateur Provincial Competition
Referees: Mpho Matsaung, Nico Schmahl, Divan Uys, Khotso Raleting
Manager/Coach: Philip du Toit
Final Day
7th/8th Play-off
Free State Rural vs Griquas Rural
Referee: Khotso Raleting
Plate Final
KwaZulu-Natal Rural vs Griffons Rural
Referee: Mpho Matsaung
3rd/4th Play-off
Griquas Central vs Griffons Central
Referee: Nico Schmahl
Cup Final
Sharks XV vs Free State Central
Referee: Divan Uys
Under-21
Western Province vs Blue Bulls at Newlands
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman, Local
Lions vs Sharks at Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Francois Pretorius
Assistant referees: Jaco Kotze, Local
Free State vs Leopards at Free State Rugby Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant referees: Ricus van der Hoven, Local
Griffons vs Valke at Northwest Stadium, Welkom
Referee: Renier Vermeulen
Assistant referees: Paul Mente, Local
Boland vs South Western Districts at Boland Cavaliers Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Oregopotse Rametsi
Assistant referees: Divan Uys, Local
Griquas vs Border at GWK Park, Kimberley
Referee: Archie Sehlako
Assistant referees: Pieter Maritz, Local
Limpopo at Pumas at New Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane
Referee: Jaco Pretorius
Assistant referees: Jacques Nieuwenhuis, Local
Under-19
Western Province vs Blue Bulls at Newlands
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistant referees: Local
Lions vs Sharks at Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Jaco Kotze
Assistant referees: Local
Free State vs Leopards at Free State Rugby Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Ricus van der Hoven
Assistant referees: Local
Griffons vs Valke at Northwest Stadium, Welkom
Referee: Paul Mente
Assistant referees: Local
Boland vs South Western Districts at Boland Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Divan Uys
Assistant referees: Local
Griquas vs Border at GWK Park, Kimberley
Referee: Pieter Maritz
Assistant referees: Local
Limpopo vs Pumas at New Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane
Referee: Jacques Nieuwenhuis
Assistant referees: Local
Wales
Premiership
Newport vs Pontypridd
Referee: Rhys Thomas
Assistant referees: Chris Williams, Ben Porte
Ebbw Vale vs Neath
Referee: Neil Hennessy
Assistant referees: Owain Griffiths, Mike Davies
Carmarthen vs Aberavon
Referee: Sean Brickell
Assistant referees: Alun Emmanuel, Richard Hughes
Bedwas vs Cross Keys
Referee: Simon Rees
Assistant referees: Morgan Whitehead, Rob Mota
Llanelli vs Cardiff
Referee: Ben Whitehouse
Assistant referees: Jonathan Walters, Steffan Davies
Bridgend vs Llandovery
Referee: Rob Price
Assistant referees: Wayne Davies, Huw F Lewis
