This week the ITM Cup, New Zealand's top provincial competition, starts. Three referees make their debuts at this level - Shaun Elliott, Nick Briant and Richard Kelly.

Two South African referees have made their debuts in the Premier Division of the Currie Cup recently - Jason Jaftha and Lourens van der Merwe. Neither had 'easy' matches.  Jaftha refereed the match in Durban between the Sharks and the Blue Bulls while Van der Merwe was in Kimberley when Griquas played the Golden Lions. In both instances the refereeing was excellent. If they carry on like this, they have great refereeing careers ahead.

International

Tri-Nations, Round 4

Australia vs New Zealand in Melbourne
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)

Domestic

Australia

New South Wales

TooheysNewCup Shute Shield

West Harbour vs Manly at Concord Oval
Referee: James Leckie
Assistant referees: Neil Favager, Kevin Twomey

Southern Districts vs Randwick at Forshaw Rugby Park
Referee: Ian Smith
Assistant referees: Michael Blair, Darren Bradley
Television match official: Peter Redwin 
Coach: Brendan Taylor

Northern Suburbs vs Sydney University at North Sydney Oval
Referee: Anthony Moyes
Assistant referees: Buddy Kyle, Dale Harding
Coach: Andrew Halmarick

Warringah vs Penrith at Pittwater Rugby Park
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: Luke Colbron, John Salisbury
Coach: Frank Meiklejon

Eastern Suburbs vs Parramatta at Woollahra Oval
Referee: Callan O'Neill
Assistant referees: William Houston, Michael Andrews
Coach: Peter Marshall

Eastwood vs Gordon at TG Millner Field
Referee: Andrew Lees
Assistant referees: Matt Kellahan, Stephen Copeman
Coach: John McCarthy

Ireland

Interprovincial

Connacht/Munster vs Leinster/Ulster
Referee: Alain Rolland
Assistant referees: George Clancy, Simon McDowell
Television match official: Tony Redmond
Assessor: Tim Aplin

New Zealand

ITM Cup, Week 1

Taranaki vs Northland in New Plymouth
Referee: Garratt Williamson

Canterbury vs Hawke's Bay in Christchurch
Referee: Matthew Stanish

Manawatu  vs Southland in Palmerston North
Referee: Glenn Newman

Counties-Manukau vs Otago in Pukekohe
Referee: Vinny Munro

Waikato vs Bay of Plenty in Hamilton
Referee: Kane McBride

North Harbour vs Auckland in North Shore City
Referee: Nick Briant

Wellington  vs Tasman in Wellington
Referee: Josh Noonan

South Africa

Currie Cup

Premier

Western Province vs Pumas at Newlands
Referee: Pro Legoete
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry, Eugenia Daniels
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman

Leopards vs Griquas at Olën Park, Potchefstroom
Assistant referees: Jason Jaftha
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Phillip Bosch
Assessor: Theuns Naudé

Cheetahs vs Sharks at Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Referee: Mark Lawrence
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Fakumile Yamile
Television match official: JC Fortuin
Assessor: Thuso Mngqibisa

Golden Lions vs Blue Bulls at Coca Cola Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Marius Jonker
Assistant referees: François Groenewald, Reuben Rossouw
Assessor: Johann Meuwesen
Television match official: Dennis Immelman

1st Division

Boland vs Eastern Province at Boland Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Lusanda Jam, Linston Manuels
Assessor: Hulet Billett

Griffons vs South Western Districts at North West Stadium, Welkom
Referee: Sindile Mayende
Assistant referees: Mlungiseli Mdashe, Stefan Breytenbach
Television match official: Gerrie Coetzee
Television match official: Gerrit Coetzer

Under-21

Free State vs Sharks at Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Referee: Ben Crouse
Assistant referees: Jocelyn Tucker, Fakumile Yamile
Television match official: JC Fortuin
Assessor: Thuso Mngqibisa

Golden Lions vs Blue Bulls at Coca Cola Park, Johannesburg
Referee: François Groenewald
Assistant referees: Willie Killian, Reuben Rossouw
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen
Assessor: Dennis Immelman

Boland vs Leopards at Boland Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Lusanda Jam
Assistant referees: Andrew Slater, Linston Manuels
Television match official: Hulet Billett
 
Under-19

Free State vs Sharks at Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Referee: Jocelyn Tucker
Assessor: Thuso Mngqibisa

Golden Lions vs Blue Bulls at Coca Cola Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Willie Killian
Assessor: Dennis Immelman

Griffons vs Western Province at North West Stadium, Welkom
Referee: Jimmy Aphane
Assessor: Gerrit Coetzer