SA’s Barrett-Theron to Referee Opening RWC Match

South Africa’s Aimee Barrett-Theron will referee the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 opening match between hosts England and 1991 champions USA at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on 22 August.

With excitement building around the world as the countdown hits 44 days to go, World Rugby has announced the Emirates Match Official appointments for the 24 matches that make up the pool stage of what promises to be the biggest and best-ever Women’s Rugby World Cup.

In May, a team of 22 Emirates Match Officials (10 referees, six assistant referees and six Television Match Officials) were selected for the showcase event in England, which runs from 22 August to 27 September across eight host locations.

It will be the second time that the South African official has been handed the honour of refereeing the opening match, having also taken charge of England’s encounter with Spain at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 in Ireland.

A significant milestone will be reached on the last day of the pool stage on 7 September with Sara Cox (England) to become the first female to referee 50 test matches when she takes charge of Japan v Spain at York Community Stadium in York.

Clara Munarini (Italy) will be in the middle for the final match of the pool stage later that day, the Pool D meeting between France and South Africa at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton.

Emirates World Rugby Match Official appointment highlights

• Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa) will be assisted in the opening match by Natarsha Ganley (New Zealand) and Maria Heitor (Portugal) with Leo Colgan (Ireland) as Television Match Official and Rachel Horton (Australia) as Foul Play Review Official.
• Heitor will become the first Portuguese official on the Rugby World Cup stage.
• Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe) will follow suit as the first African female from outside South Africa when she is an assistant referee for the other Pool A match on the opening weekend between Australia v Samoa in Manchester a day later.
• Sara Cox will officiate in her fifth Women’s Rugby World Cup, having had appointments as an assistant referee in 2010 and 2014 before refereeing in the last two tournaments.
• Natarsha Ganley, Ella Goldsmith (Australia) and Kat Roche (USA) will make their Rugby World Cup refereeing debuts, the latter having been an assistant referee in New Zealand.
• Goldsmith will take charge of New Zealand’s opening match of their title defence, against Spain in York on 24 August.
• Four officials will referee three matches in the pool stage in Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand), Cox, Aurélie Groizeleau (France) and Hollie Davidson (Scotland).
• Groizeleau’s first appointment – Canada v Fiji in York on 23 August – will be her 40th test as a referee, making her the fourth female to reach the milestone after Barrett-Theron, Cox and Davidson.
• Cox’s third match in the pool stage – Japan v Spain in York on 7 September – will see her become the first female to take charge of 50 tests and the 16th overall in test history.
• Davidson will referee Brazil’s first-ever Women’s Rugby World Cup match against South Africa in Northampton on 24 August.

Chair of Emirates World Rugby Match Officials Selection Committee and Executive Board member, Su Carty said: “Firstly, a big congratulations to the match officials, who have earned their place and appointments on merit. Rugby is a team sport, and every step of the way, this group of exceptional people have worked tirelessly as a team to calibrate, review and advance. This will continue throughout Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. I know that they are all excited in playing their part in facilitating great matches that will be at the heart of an era-defining competition.”

World Rugby Women’s High Performance Referee Manager Alhambra Nievas said: “Congratulations to all our match officials. Everyone will play their part in the pool phase. With less than 50 days to go, we are all now focused on being the best we can be on and off the field. There is an incredible camaraderie and bond within this group, and I look forward to seeing our team in action, doing what they do best at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.”

Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 panel

Referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand), Sara Cox (England), Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Ella Goldsmith (Australia), Natarsha Ganley (New Zealand), Aurélie Groizeleau (France), Lauren Jenner (Italy), Clara Munarini (Italy), Kat Roche (USA).

Assistant referees: Maria Heitor (Portugal), Jess Ling (Australia), Amelia Luciano (USA), Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe, reserve referee), Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales), Holly Wood (England).

Television Match Officials: Leo Colgan (Ireland), Rachel Horton (Australia), Quinton Immelman (South Africa), Matteo Liperini (Italy), Andrew McMenemy (Scotland), Ian Tempest (England).