Referees to 9 August 2015
Sir Donald Currie donated the Cup in 1892. Only the French Championnat can match it for longevity, being just two years younger.
The Championnat has maintained its premier position but the Currie Cup has lost out to the many SANZAR happenings, and then this year there is the World Cup. It is sad that such a great tournament should be watered down, for it still is great watching. Australia is still trying to get something like it together and the New Zealand provincial competition, which starts soon, dates back only to 1976.
South Africa's first provincial match in competition was in Kimberley on 29 August 1889 when Western Province played Eastern Province. The referee was Percy Ross Frames of Griquas. There were also two umpires – Barnett of Eastern Province and Reg Honey of Western Province.
The first Currie Cup match of 2015, 126 years later, is in Kimberley and again Western Province is playing, this time against Griquas. The referee who will start this year's Currie Cup is Jaco Peyper of Bloemfontein. His assistants will be Lourens van der Merwe and Jaco Kotze. He will also have a TMO, something not even dreamed of in 1889.
International rugby on its way back and there is a first ever in South Africa when the DeafBoks play Wales in Pretoria.
International
Rugby Championship
Australia vs New Zealand at ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
South Africa vs Argentina at KINGS Park, Durban
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: JP Doyle (England), Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Africa Cup, Division 1A
Namibia vs Kenya at Hage Geingob Stadium, Windhoek
Referee: Lesego Legoete (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Sykes Sibanda (Zimbabwe), Desmond McDonnell)
Friendly
Wales vs Ireland at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gauzère (France), Mathieu Raynal (France)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Deaf
SA Deaf vs Wales Deaf Rugby at Waterkloof High School, Pretoria
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Local
Under-18
These matches take place at City Park in Cape Town.
Italy vs South African Schools A
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
Assistant referees: Emanuele Tom (Italy), Jabian Jeftha (South Africa)
Television match official: Jason Jaftha (South Africa)
Assessor: Balie Swart/Dennis Immelman (South Africa)
England vs France
Referee: AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Luc Ramos (France), Jabian Jeftha (South Africa)
Television match official: Jason Jaftha (South Africa)
Assessor: Balie Swart/Dennis Immelman (South Africa)
South African Schools vs Wales
Referee: Emanuele Tomo (Italy)
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs (South Africa), Jabian Jeftha (South Africa)
Television match official: Jason Jaftha (South Africa)
Assessor: Balie Swart/Dennis Immelman (South Africa)
Friendly
Connacht vs Grenoble at Sportsground
Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Sean Gallagher (Ireland), Ken Imbusch (Ireland)
Domestic
Australia
New South Wales
Shute Shield Semifinals
Manly vs Sydney University at Manly Oval
Referee: Andrew Lees
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner, Edward Martin
Coach: Peter Marshall
Eastwood vs Southern Districts at TG Millner Field
Referee: William Houston
Assistant referees: Michael Hogan, Anthony Moyes
Coach: John McCarthy
South Africa
Currie Cup
Griquas vs Western Province at Griqua Park, Kimberley
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Jaco Kotze
Television match official: JJ Wagner
Assessor: Dennis Immelman
Pumas vs Sharks XV at Mbombela stadium, Nelspruit
Referee: Jaco van Heerden
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Renier Vermeulen
Television match official: Johan Greeff
Assessor: Mark Lawrence
Eastern Province Kings vs Golden Lions at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistant referees: Jason Jaftha, Francois Pretorius
Television match official: Marius Jonker
Assessor: Banks Yantolo
Free State vs Blue Bulls at Free State Rugby Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge, Jaco Pretorius
Television match official: Willie Vos
Assessor: Jaco Peyper
Under-21
Eastern Province vs Golden Lions at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Referee: Francois Pretorius, Local
Assessor: Banks Yantolo
Free State vs Blue Bulls at Free State Rugby Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Jaco Pretorius, Local
Assessor: Craig Joubert
Leopards vs Western Province at Oliën Park, Potchefstroom
Referee: Ben Crouse
Assistant referees: Vusi Msibi, Local
Assessor: Dennis Immelman
Under-19
Eastern Province vs Lions at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Francois Pretorius
Assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Keith Hendricks
Free State vs Blue Bulls at Free State Rugby Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Jaco Pretorius
Assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Jacques Hugo
Leopards vs Western Province at Oliën Park, Potchefstroom
Referee: Vusi Msibi
Assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Kim Smit
FNB Classic Clash
Alexandria vs Ukhanyo in Alexandria
Referee: Tahla Ntshakaza
Assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Kim Smit
Selborne vs Dale in East London
Referee: Sindile Ngcese
Assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Thuso Mngqibisa
Gill College vs Cradock in Somerset East
Referee: Christie du Preez
Assistant referees: Local
Union High vs Volkskool in Graaff-Reinet
Referee: Tahla Ntshakaza
Assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Pierre Oelofse
Hawston vs Swartberg in Hawston
Referee: Jabian Jeftha
Assistant referees: Local
Assessor: Keith Hendricks
