The international window is shut for a bit, but we have some huge finals this weekend. Karl Dickson (pictured top left) and Matthew Carley take charge of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup finals respectively – both played in Bilboa, Spain. There’s also the SA Cup Final in South Africa where Christopher Allison referees the Griquas-Pumas finale.
It’s the business end of the Japanese season with quarter final play offs, and the first leg of some Promotion/Relegation ties. Takehito Namekawa (bottom left) has the first leg of the Div1 bottom v Div 2 top to see who gets the Div 1 slot next season – it’ll be one of the Toyota Shuttles and Mitsubishi Dynaboars! In France, there’s ProD2 barrages (QF play offs) and the Elite 1 Feminine is back for round 16after their W6N break. Doriane Domenjo (top right) referees Toulouse v Bobigny as the hosts look to close the gap with the top team, Romagnat. And we have the MOs for the semi-finals in Spain and the Netherlands men’s leagues too.
In the MLR, there’s a bit of a Canadian takeover on the officiating front. There’s a team of 3, fronted by Robin Kaluzniak in California, where he’s assisted by Team Assmus. And congrats to Emma Gallagher who makes her AR debut in the MLR as she looks after Robbie Jenkinson in Chicago. In Super Rugby, there’s another round in the Americas and in the Pacific version, Reuben Keane (bottom right) gets his third run out of the season as the Moana take on the Western Force.
Enjoy your weekend’s rugby
Keith
EPCR European Cup Finals – Bilbao
Investec Champions Cup
Leinster Rugby v Union Bordeaux Bègles
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
ARs: Christophe Ridley (Eng) & Hollie Davidson (Sco)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
Challenge Cup Final
Montpellier Hérault Rugby v Ulster
Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng)
ARs: Andrea Piardi (Ita) and Craig Evans (Wal)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
U20 International Series
Thursday 21st May (all in South Africa)
Georgia v Fiji
Referee: Juan de Bod (SA)
South Africa v Chile
Referee: Diogo Inácio (Por)
Tuesday 26 May
Chile v Georgia
Referee: Juan de Bod (SA)
South Africa v Fiji
Referee: Dylen November (SA)
Japan – League One play offs
Division 1 – QF1: 4th v 5th (winner to play 2nd team – WildKnghts)
Sungoliath v Blackrams
Referee: Katsuki Furuse
ARs: Masaki Kondo & Toshimasa Sekiya
TMO: Tasuku Kawahara
FPRO: Koki Yamauchi
QF2 – 3rd v 6th (winner to play 1st team – Kobe Steelers)
Spears v BraveLupus
Referee: Koki Yamauchi
ARs: Katsuki Furuse & Teruki Inanishi
TMO: Yosuke Kimura
FPRO: Ibuki Tetsuka
Promotion/Relegation Div 2 (7th) v Div 3 (2nd) Playoff – 1st leg
Seawaves v Rugguts
Referee: Toshimasa Sekiya
ARs: Masaki Kondo & Atsushi Yamamoto
TMO: Tomohiro Koyama
FPRO: Kazuhito Taniguchi
Promotion/Relegation Div 1(12th)v Div 2(1st) Play off – 1st leg
Shuttles v Dynaboars
Referee: Takehito Namekawa
ARs: Tetsuya Hirakawa & Riki Itohuhara
TMO: Yosuke Kimura
FPRO: Nobutsugu Oda
Promotion/Relegation Div 1 (11th)v Div 2(2nd) – 1st leg
Bluesharks v D-Rocks
Referee: Ibuki Tetsuka
ARs: Teruki Inanishi & Kohei Yoshino
TMO: Minoru Fuji
FPRO: Tomohiro Koyama
Promotion/Relegation Div 2(8th) v Div 3 (1st) – 1st leg
Reddolphins v Skyactivs
Referee: Motonori Mizutani
ARs: Sota Ouchi & Yusaku Murata
TMO: Mayumi Takahashi
FPRO: Takahiro Kano
Super Rugby Pacific 2026 — Round 15
Crusaders v Chiefs
Referee: James Doleman
ARs: Marcus Playle & Fraser Hannon
TMO: Glenn Newman
Waratahs v Brumbies
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
ARs: Todd Petrie & Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly
Moana Pasifika v Reds
Referee: Reuben Keane
ARs: Jordan Way & Louis Trisley
TMO: Brett Cronan
Hurricanes v Highlanders
Referee: Angus Gardner
ARs: Geroge Myers & Matt Kellahan
TMO: Graham Cooper
Force v Fijian Drua
Referee: Paul Williams
ARs: Angus Mabey & Michael Winter
TMO: Aaron Paterson
Super Rugby Americas – round 12
Pampas v Cobras Brasil Rugby
Referee: Gonzalo De Achaval
ARs: Cauã Ricardo & Simón Larrubia
Peñarol Rugby v Dogos XV
Referee: Tomás Bertazza
ARs: Federico Longobardi & Armen Abi-Saab
Capibaras XV v Selknam
Referee: Tomás Ninci
ARs: Esteban Filipanics
Tarucas v Yacare XV
Referee: Francisco González
ARs: Juan Manuel Martínez & Pedro Lopez Vildosa
England: Elior Champ Rugby – Semi-finals
Semi-finals
Ealing Trailfinders v Worcester Warriors
Referee: George Selwood
ARs: Alex Thomas & Mike Woods
Bedford Blues v Coventry (**Waves to a regular reader….**)
Referee: Harry Walbaum
ARs: Richard Gordon & James Clarke
The Champ Relegation/Nat 1 Promotion match
London Scottish v Blackheath
Referee: Hamish Grant
ARs: Henry Pearson & Mike Hudson
England: Women’s Championship Final
Old Albanians Saints v Richmond FC Women (at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)
Referee: Rosie Proctor (Manchester)
MLR – Round 9
Anthem Rugby Carolina v New England Free Jacks
Referee: Luke Rogan
ARs: Federico Anselmi & Amelia Luciano
Chicago Hounds v Seattle Seawolves
Referee: Robbie Jenkinson
ARs: Derek Summers & Emma Gallagher
California Legion v Old Glory DC
Referee: Robin Kaluzniak
ARs: Shanda Assmus & Chris Assmus
France – ProD2 barrages
Oyonnax Rugby v Valence Romans (winner to play RC Vannes in semi)
Referee: Thomas Charabas
ARs: Pierre Olivier Julien & Evan Urruzmendi
TMO: Mourad Zitouni
Provence Rugby v CA Brive (winner to play Colomiers in semi)
Referee: Adrien Marbot
ARs: Thomas Chereque & Jonathan Dufort
TMO: Patrick Dellac
France: Elite 1 Feminine – round 16
Montpellier Herault Rugby v Blagnac Sporting Club Rugby
Referee: Julien Andreani
ARs: Thomas Martinez & Ludovic Aoust
Stade Toulousain Rugby v AC Bobigny 93 Rugby
Referee: Doriane Domenjo
ARs: Kevin Garbay & Maxime Rouquie
FC Grenoble Amazones v Stade Villeneuvois Lille Metropole
Referee: Matthew Keita
ARs: Redouane Moumen & Fabrice Hand
Lyon OL U v Stade Bordelais
Referee: Karl Michon
ARs: Matthew Keita & Guillaume Ferrer
RC Toulon Provence Mediterranee v ASM Romagnat Rugby Feminin
Referee: Victor Liaud
ARs: Lorenzo Alaimo & Sebastien Royer
Spain: Division de honor (men’s) – Semi-finals
VRAC Quesos Entrepinares v Societe Generale Liceo Frances
Referee: Federico Javier Japas
Recoletas Burgos 2031-Caja Rural v Silicius Alcobendas Rugby
Referee: Carlos Guerrero Padin
Netherlands: Ereklasse (Men’s) Semi-finals
RC The Dukes v RC Eemland
Referee: Katherine Ritchie
ARs Liam Wright & Thomas Binns
Haagsche RC v RC ‘t Gooi
Referee: Dan O’Connell
ARs: Koen Maaijen & Lars Looten
South Africa: SA Cup Final (Men’s)
Suzuki Griquas v Airlink Pumas
Referee: Christopher Allison
ARs: Griffin Colby & Hanru van Rooyen
TMO: Egon Seconds
Jakarta 10s
Referees: Stefan Berder, Stephen Barber, Jacob Christensen , Roy Doe, Darroch Chua, Hj Tom Azizan, Muhammad Rean Bin Abdul Razak, Laurent Cinot, Hambali, Ari Yuda Pramono, Edwin Ahmad Sahid, M. Fachri Setiawan, Ridwan Afif, Demianus Triharto Anderi, Gusnaldi Satria PP, Wahyu Angga Ardian Utama, Eunike Octovia Taime, Merry Joana Yoku, Suci Dewi Cahyaningrum
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