MATCH OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS TO 18 OCTOBER 2026
Match official appointments for the next few days have been made with the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup kick-off, while the SA Rugby U20 Cup and Pick n Pay Gold Cup are heading to the business end.
Bledisloe Cup
Saturday, 17 October 2026
Australia vs New Zealand at Accor Stadium, Sydney, Australia – 7h45
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (IRFU), Damian Schneider (UAR)
Television Match Official: Marius van der Westhuizen
Split Screen/FPRO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
WXV Global Series
Friday, 16 October 2026
Canada vs England at BMO Stadium, Toronto, Canada – 01h00
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Luke Rogan (USA), Amelia Luciano (USA)
Television Match Official: Derek Summers (USA)
Split Screen/FPRO: Cam Russell (RC)
Saturday, 17 October 2026
New Zealand vs France at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, NZ – 04h05
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (RA)
Assistant Referees: Amber McLachlan (RA), Jess Ling ( RA)
Television Match Official: Rachel Horton (RA)
Split Screen/FPRO: Damon Murphy (RA)
Australia vs Scotland at Accor Stadium, Sydney, Australia – 04h00
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Cloe Sampson (NZR), Erin Doherty (NZR)
Television Match Official: Estelle Whaiapu (NZR)
Split Screen/FPRO: Aaron Paterson (NZR)
USA vs Italy at Mansfield Stadium, Mansfield, USA – 00h00
Referee: Holly Wood (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Emma Gallagher (RC), Lindsey OIiver (USAR)
Television Match Official: Cam Russel (RC)
Split Screen/FPRO: Derek Summers (USAR)
Investec Champions Cup
Friday, 16 October 2026
Gloucester vs Union Bordeaux Begles at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester – 21h00
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi
Assistant Referees: Franco Rosella, Dario Merli
Television Match Official: Matteo Liperini
Saturday, 17 October 2026
Sale Sharks vs Glasgow Warriors at CorpAcq Stadium, Manchester – 14h00
Referee: Craig Evans
Assistant Referees: Gareth Newman, Lucas Yendle
Television Match Official: Ben Whitehouse
Vodacom Bulls vs Stade Francais Paris at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – 14h00
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant Referees: George Selwood, Jamie Parr
Television Match Official: Aled Griffiths
ASM Clermont Auvergne vs Leinster at Stade Marcel-Michelin, Clermont – 16h15
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant Referees: Hamish Smales, Jonathan Healy
Television Match Official: Andrew Jackson
DHL Stormers vs Bristol Bears at DHL Stadium, Cape Town – 16h15
Referee: Kevin Bralley
Assistant Referees: Vincent Blasco-Baque, Flavien Hourquet
Television Match Official: Eric Gauzins
Split Screen/FPRO: Christie du Preez
Connacht vs Saracens at Dexcom Stadium, Galway – 18h30
Referee: Pierre Brousset
Assistant Referees: Luc Ramos, Julien Caulier
Television Match Official: Tual Trainini
Stade Rochelais vs 10bet Lions at Stade Marcel-Deflandre, La Rochelle – 18h30
Referee: Sam Grove-White
Assistant Referees: Jonny Mackenzie, Rob McDowell
Television Match Official: David Sutherland
Munster vs Racing 92 at SuperValu Paric Ui Chaoimh, Cork – 21h00
Referee: Karl Dickson
Assistant Referees: Joe James, Richard Gordon
Television Match Official: Dean Richards
Bath vs Montpellier Herault at The Recreation Ground, Bath – 21h00
Referee: Andrea Piardi
Assistant Referees: Filippo Russo, Alberto Favaro
Television Match Official: Matteo Liperini
Sunday, 18 October 2026
Section Paloise vs Leicester Tigers at Stade du Hameau, Pau – 14h00
Referee: Eoghan Cross
Assistant Referees: Robbie Jenkinson, Andrew Cole
Television Match Official: Olly Hodges
Stade Toulousain vs Exeter Chiefs at Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse – 16h15
Referee: Hollie Davidson
Assistant Referees: Rob MacDowell, Finlay Brown
Television Match Official: David Sutherland
Northampton Saints vs Cardiff at Franklin’s Garden, Northampton – 18h30
Referee: Jeremy Rozier
Assistant Referees: Thomas Charabas, Cyril Boulay
Television Match Official: Julien Castaignede
EPCR Challenge Cup
Friday, 16 October 2026
Dragons vs USAP at Rodney Parade, Newport – 21h00
Referee: Hanru van Rooyen
Assistant Referees: Alex Thomas, Hamish Grant
Television Match Official: David Rose
Edinburgh vs RC Toulon at Hive Stadium, Edinburgh – 21h00
Referee: Ben Breakspear
Assistant Referees: Carwyn Sion, Lloyd Edwards
Television Match Official: Dan Jones
Saturday, 17 October 2026
LOU Rugby vs Hollywoodbets Sharks at Matmut Stadium de Gerland, Lyon – 14h00
Referee: Federico Vedovelli
Assistant Referees: Daniele Pompa, Matteo Angelo Locatelli
Television Match Official: Stefano Penne
Black Lion vs Ospreys at Avchala Rugby Stadium, Tbilisi – 14h00
Referee: Benoit Rousselet
Assistant Referees: Remi Aigubonne, Tomas Chereque
Television Match Official: Hervé Lasusa
Sunday, 18 October 2026
Aviron Bayonnais vs Toyota Cheetahs at Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne – 14h00
Referee: Peter Martin
Assistant Referees: Keane Davison, Jack MacNeice
Television Match Official: Leo Colgan
Harlequins vs RC Vannes at Twickenham Stoop, Twickenham – 14h00
Referee: Sara Cox
Assistant Referees: Harry Walbaum, Jamie Leahy
Television Match Official: Peter Allan
Castres Olympique vs Benetton at Stade Pierre-Fabre, Castres – 18h30
Referee: Morne Ferreira
Assistant Referees: Ru Campbell, Ciaran Stark
Television Match Official: Marius Jonker
SA Rugby U20 Cup
Saturday, 17 October 2026
DHL Stormers Bolts vs Toyota Cheetahs U20 at City Park, Athlone – 12h00
Referee: Thabiso Mbatha
Leopards U20 vs Hollywoodbets Sharks Gen at Olen Park, Potchefstroom – 12h00
Referee: Stiaan Marx
Fidelity ADT Lions U20 vs Vodacom Bulls U20 at UJ Stadium, Johannesburg – 13h00
Referee: Griffin Colby
Pick n Pay Gold Cup Semi-Finals
Saturday, 17 October 2026
Northam Rhinos vs Naka Bulls at Bushveld Park, Setaria – 16h00
Referee: Dylen November
Assistant Referees: Chris Smit, Johan Ross
College Rovers vs Durbell at Kings Park 3, Durban – 14h00
Referee: Jonathan Lottering
Assistant Referees: Local
SUPPLIED
