After the shock result (?) in Wellington last week, New Zealand will look to get back on track with the second of two consecutive Tests against Argentina. Italian referee Andrea Piardi (Picture top left) will make his debut as a TRC referee at Eden Park. In Perth, Paul Williams (top right) moves from AR to referee as the Wallabies look to reverse their defeat to the Springboks. In Shizuoka, Jess Ling (bottom left) will referee the second of the WXV warm-up matches between Japan and the USA. The first match last weekend ended in a 17-17 draw.

In South Africa the Currie Cup continues and alongside the well known SARU referees comes Irish referee Peter Martin who is also getting some playing time in the pre-season. Speaking of Ireland, the women’s inter-provincial tournaments started last weekend (I missed them so I didn’t include the list last week). Round two is this week in Ulster and Munster. We hope that the IRFU will bring some female referees onto the team for future rounds/competitions.

In New Zealand, the Heartlands Championship joins the NPC and the Farah Palmer Cup on the list below. A special tip of the hat goes to Sam Adam (bottom right), who makes his first grade debut in the FPC match between Northland and Bay of Plenty. He joins Tiana Anderson and Ben Alexander, who referee the other two FPC premiership matches.

Enjoy your rugby weekend
Keith

The Rugby Championship – Round 2

New Zealand vs Argentina (Eden Park, Auckland)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (ITA)
ARs: Angus Gardner (AUS) and Nic Berry (AUS)
TMO: Marius Jonker (RSA)

Australia vs South Africa (Optus Stadium, Perth)
Referee: Paul Williams (NZ)
ARs: Luke Pearce (ENG) and Hollie Davidson (SCO)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZ)

Women’s national team

Japan vs USA (in Shizuoka)
Referee: Jess Ling (Aus)
ARs: Ella Goldsmith (Aus) and Ano Kuwai (Japan)
TMO: Estelle Whaiapu (NZ)

South Africa – Carling Currie Cup Premier Division

Airlink Pumas vs Vodacom Bulls
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni

Fidelity ADT Lions vs DHL Western Province
Referee: Hanru van Rooyen

Toyota Cheetahs vs Hollywoodbets Sharks
Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU)

NovaVit Griffons vs Suzuki Griquas
Referee: Morne Ferreira

Ireland: Women’s Interprovincial Championship

Ulster vs Connacht
Referee: Dermot Blake

Munster vs Leinster
Referee: Shane Gaughan

New Zealand: Bunnings NPC – Round 2

Otago vs Auckland
Referee: Jackson Henshaw
ARs: Fraser Hannon and Caleb Neilson
TMO: Rob Wells

Northland vs Manawatu
Referee: Angus Mabey
ARs: Nathan Chestnut and Stephan Ball
TMO: Llew Smart

Tasman vs Canterbury
Referee: James Doleman
ARs: Dave Woodhouse and Damon Smith
TMO: Steff James

Hawke’s Bay vs Southland
Referee: Stu Curran
ARs: Dan Waenga and Stu Catley
TMO: Mark Johnson

Wellington vs Taranaki
Referee: Fraser Hannon
ARs: Matt Thomas and Jamie Fairmaid
TMO: Jared Clarke

Bay of Plenty v North Harbour
Referee: Jono Bredin
ARs: Nick Briant and Sam Fellows
TMO: Shane McDermott

Counties Manukau v Waikato
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
ARs: Brandon Roberts and Robert Shore
TMO: John Wright

NZ: Heartland Championship – Round 1

East Coast vs Buller
Referee: Andy Morton
ARs: Jackson Reuben-Swinton and Jimmy Green

King Country v Mid Canterbury
Referee: Todd Petrie
ARs: Jamie Bell and Tony Prestage

North Otago v Horowhenua Kapiti
Referee: Chris Paul
ARs: Jared Fox and Stefan Mavor

Wairarapa Bush versus Thames Valley
Referee: Nick Hogan
ARs: Alistair Payne and Chris Jefferies

Whanganui v South Canterbury
Referee: Will Johnston
ARs: Amon Rimene and Scott Dowman

West Coast vs Poverty Bay
Referee: Dan Moore
ARs: Chris O’Malley and Colin van der Geest

NZ: Farah Palmer Cup – Premiership, Round 2

Hawke’s Bay vs Counties Manukau
Referee: Tiana Anderson
ARs: Dave Clarkson and Max Lancaster

Northland vs Bay of Plenty
Referee: Sam Adam
ARs: Leo Palmer and Travis Larsen

Canterbury vs Waikato
Referee: Ben Alexander
ARs: Josh Edmonds and Jared Le Gros

NZ: Farah Palmer Cup – Championship – Round 2

Taranaki vs Wellington
Referee: Ben Woolerton
ARs: Masyn Austin and Cam Stone

Manawatu vs Otago
Referee: Chloe Sampson
ARs: Matt McEwen and Warrick Price

North Harbour vs Tasman
Referee: Erin Doherty
Defenders: Scott McKenzie and Caleb Greaves

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