A long series of warm-up games for the World Cup means World Rugby’s referees’ committee has been hard at work.
While you will see plenty of familiar names in the lists below, it’s fascinating to note how the committee grades its officials. Naturally enough, the bigger the game, the bigger the name.
There are further subtle differences: only certain matches are granted a fifth official, an FPRO or foul-play review officer. It’s not as if only they are likely to need one to be employed. But then, a few games don’t even warrant a TMO. We can’t all be equal.
If Aurélie Groizeleau were to suffer a mid-match injury – highly unlikely – it looks as though Sara Cox might actually referee the Red Roses at Leicester.
It’s not only the team and their managements who profit from these matches: the officials too can hone their performances. Those still on the lower rungs of the referees’ order of merit can improve their chances of promotion. Assessors will be hard at work.
The venues cover an astonishing range of continents. Just three games still have a vacancy, and one of them is taking place in England.
The eighteen matches across July and August:
5 July 2025
South Africa v Canada (Pretoria)
Referee: Clara Munarini (FIR)
ARs: Precious Pazani (Zim) and Zoe Naude (SARU)
TMO: Egon Seconds (SARU)
12 July 2025
New Zealand v Australia (Wellington)
Referee: Kat Roche (USAR)
ARs: Natarsha Ganley (NZ) and Jess Ling (RA)
TMO: Rachel Horton (RA)
FPRO: Estelle Whaiapu (NZR)
South Africa v Canada (Gqeberha)
Referee: Precious Pazani (Zim)
ARs: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) and Zoe Naude (SARU)
TMO: Christie du Preez (SARU)
Brazil v Netherlands (Jacarei)
Referee: Emma Gallagher (RC)
ARs: Kristine Lovatt (RC) and Host Union appointment
19 July 2025
Japan v Spain (Kitakyushu)
Referee: Lauren Jenner (FIR)
ARs: Precious Pazani (Zim) and Hibiki Ikeda (JRFU)
USA v Fiji (Washington, DC)
Referee: Sara Cox (RFU)
ARs: Kat Roche (USAR) and Amelia Luciano (USAR)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
FPRO: Austin Reed (USAR)
Brazil v Netherlands (São Paulo)
Referee: Kristine Lovatt (RC)
ARs: Emma Gallagher (RC) and Host Union appointment
TMO: Marcelo Pilara (Arg)
25-27 July 2025
Italy v Scotland (Viadana)
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR)
ARs: Maria Heitor (Por) and Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
Australia v Wales (Brisbane)
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR)
ARs: Natarsha Ganley (NZ) and Jess Ling (RA)
TMO: Rachel Horton (RA)
FPRO: Oli Kellett (RA)
Japan v Spain (Tokyo)
Referee: Lauren Jenner (FIR)
ARs: Precious Pazani (Zim) and Hibiki Ikeda (JRFU)
1-2 August 2025
Australia v Wales (Sydney)
Referee: Natarsha Ganley (NZR)
ARs: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR) and Jess Ling (RA)
TMO: Rachel Horton (RA)
FPRO: Oli Kellett (RA)
Canada v USA (Ottawa)
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (RA)
ARs: Kat Roche (USA) and Amelia Luciano (USA)
TMO: Chris Assmus (RC)
Ireland v Scotland (Cork)
Referee: Clara Munarini (FIR)
ARs: Holly Wood (RFU) and Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
England v Spain (Leicester)
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR)
ARs: Sara Cox (RFU) and Maria Heitor (Por)
TMO: TBC
9 August 2025
Fiji v Samoa (Lautoka)
Referee: Natarsha Ganley (NZR)
ARs: Jess Ling (RA) and Chloe Sampson (NZR)
Ireland v Canada (Belfast)
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR)
ARs: Lauren Jenner (FIR) and Berenice Bralley (FFR)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
France v England (Mont de Marsan)
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)
ARs: Clara Munarini (FIR) and Maria Heitor (Por)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Italy v Japan (Calvisano)
Referee: Sara Cox (RFU)
ARs: Holly Wood (RFU) and Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU)
