Referees to 12 June 2016
The big referee news for this week is that Nigel Owens of Wales will become the most capped referee of all time when he referees Fiji vs Tonga in Suva. That will be his 71st Test. At present he and Jonathan Kaplan are locked on 70 Tests each.
For Stuart Berry of South Africa it is his first Tier 1 Test.
June is now the month when above all North goes South. All the Six Nations countriesd do what the swallows don't do – migrate from summer to winter. France start a week after the others as they have the matter of Top 14 knock-out to take care of. They finish their Top 14 league matches only on 5 June. The team that heads to Italy will be composed only of players not involved in the next week's play-offs. On 13 June, other players not involved in the next round of knock-out players could also head to Argentina. The Final of the Top 14 happens on Friday, 24 June 2016, the day before France play Argentina in Argentina.
Clubs matter in France!
The referees for the matches in the June Tests spent three days at the South African Academy of Sport in the lovely town of Stellenbosch, aligning their decision-making and communicating.
This week – on Tuesday, 7 June 2016 World Rugby's Under-20 World Championship starts in Manchester. The Final round is on 25 June 2016
International
Fiji vs Tonga in Suva
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Brendan Pickerill (New Zealand)
Samoa vs Georgia in Apia
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Andrew Lees (Australia), James Leckie (Australia
New Zealand vs Wales at Eden Park
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Will Houston (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Australia vs England in Brisbane
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
South Africa vs Ireland at Newlands
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Matthew Carley (England)
Television match official: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
Argentina vs Italy in Argentina
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Luke Pearce (England), Joaquín Montes (Uruguay)
Television match official: Johan Greeff (South Africa)
Canada vs Japan in Vancouver
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Kurt Weaver (USA), , Derek Summers (USA)
World Rugby Nations Cup
Once again this is being held in Bucharest. It starts on Thursday, 9 June 2016 and ends on 18 June 2016. There are six teams taking part, divided into two pools of three each.
The matches will be played at Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf.
Referees: Vlad Iordachescu Romania), Lloyd Linton (Scotland), Damian Schneider (Argentina), Shota Tevzadze (Georgia)
Fixtures, Round 1
Argentina XV vs Spain
Referee: Shota Tevzadze (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Local
Uruguay vs Emerging Italy
Referee: Damian Schneider (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Local
Namibia vs Romania
Referee: Lloyd Linton (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Local
Africa Cup, Division 1B
Madagascar vs Zambia at Mahamasina Stadium, Antananarivo
Referee: Jean-Christian Cauquil (Réunion)
Assistant referees: Gauthier 0zoux (Mauritius), Archie Sehlako (South Africa)
South American Championship, Division B/C Promotion/Relegation Play-Off
Ecuador were bottom of Division B, Guatemala top of Division C.
Ecuador vs Guatemala in Guayaquil, Ecuador
World Rugby Under-20 Championship
Referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), Thomas Charabas (France), Graham Cooper (Australia), Craig Evans (Wales), Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa), Craig Maxwell Keys (England), Elia Rizzo (Italy), Juan Sylvestre (Argentina), Paul Williams (New Zealand).
Fixtures, Round 1
France vs Argentina
Referee: Graham Cooper (Australia)
Assistant referees: Craig Maxwell-Keys (England), Peter Allan (England)
Television match official: David Grashoff (England)
Assessor: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
South Africa vs Japan
Referee: Elia Rizzo (Italy)
Assistant referees: Craig Evans (Wales), John Meredith (England)
Television match official: John Mason (Wales)
Assessor: Andy Clift (Scotland)
Australia vs Scotland
Referee: Thomas Charabas (France)
Assistant referees: Ian Tempest (England), Paul Dix (England)
Television match official: Stuart Terheege (England)
Assessor: Robert Davies (Wales)
Wales vs Ireland
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (SARU), Phil Watters (England)
Television match official: Trevor Fisher (England)
Assessor: Robert Davies (Wales)
New Zealand vs Georgia
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Craig Maxwell-Keys (England), Andrew Jackson (England)
Television match official: David Grashoff (England)
Assessor: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
England vs Italy
Referee: Juan Sylvestre (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Craig Evans (Wales), John Meredith (England)
Television match official: John Mason (Wales)
Assessor: Andy Clift (Scotland)
A Tour
England's Saxons will play two matches against South Africa A.
South Africa A vs Saxons at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa), Jaco Kotze (South Africa)
Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Domestic
France
Top 14, Play-Offs
Montpellier vs Castres at Altrad Stadium
Referee: Laurent Cardona
Assistant referees: Maxime Chalon, Patrick Beuriot
Television match official: Daniel Irazoqui
Racing 92 vs Toulousain at Stade Yves Du Manoir
Referee: Pascal Gauzere
Assistant referees: Sebastien Minery, Thomas Dejean
Television match official: Eric Gonthier
South Africa
Currie Cup Qualifiers
Blue Bulls vs Sharks at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Egon Seconds
Assistant referees: Local
Television match official: Christie du Preez
Assessor: Deon van Blommestein
South Western Districts vs Border at Outeniqua Stadium, George
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Deon van Blommestein
Golden Lions vs Griquas at Johannesburg Police Rugby Club, Marks Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Willie Roos
Valke vs Welwitschias at Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
Referee: Rodney Boneparte
Assistant referees: Ricus van der Hoven, Local
Television match official: Willie Vos
Assessor: Dennis Immelman
Under-20
Valke vs Griffons at Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
Referee: Ricus van der Hoven
Assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Jacques Hugo
Pumas vs South Western Districts at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Referee: Jaco Pretorius
Assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Kim Smit
Griquas vs Border at Griqua Park, Kimberley
Referee: Vusi Msibi
assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Pierre Oelofse
