World Rugby have confirmed the match official appointments for the pool levels of the 2025 Girls’s Rugby World Cup, with South Africa’s Aimee Barrett-Theron taking cost of the opener between hosts England and former champions USA at Sunderland’s Stadium of Mild on August 22.
Will probably be the second time Barrett-Theron will officiate the curtain-raiser, having additionally overseen the opening match of the 2017 version when England confronted Spain. She might be joined by assistant referees Natarsha Ganley (New Zealand) and Maria Heitor (Portugal), with Leo Colgan (Eire) as TMO. Heitor’s appointment marks a historic first for Portugal on the World Cup stage, whereas Zimbabwe’s Treasured Pazani will turn into the primary African feminine official outdoors of South Africa to be concerned in a World Cup match when she serves as an assistant for Australia and Samoa’s conflict in Manchester the next day.
Ganley, Ella Goldsmith (Australia), and Kat Roche (USA) are all set to make their World Cup refereeing debuts. Goldsmith, who beforehand labored as an assistant referee, will take cost of reigning champions New Zealand’s opener in opposition to Spain in York on August 24. 4 officers — Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand), Sara Cox (England), Aurélie Groizeleau (France), and Hollie Davidson (Scotland) — will every oversee three matches within the opening rounds.
Historical past may also be made when Sara Cox turns into the primary feminine referee to officiate 50 Check matches when she takes cost of Japan and Spain in York on September 7.
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 do know that they’re all excited in taking part in their half in facilitating nice matches that might be on the coronary heart of an era-defining competitors.”
World Rugby girls’s excessive efficiency referee supervisor Alhambra Nievas added: “Congratulations to all our match officers. Everybody will play their half within the pool section. With lower than 50 days to go, we’re all now targeted on being one of the best we could be on and off the sphere. There’s an unbelievable camaraderie and bond inside this group, and I stay up for seeing our staff in motion, doing what they do finest at Girls’s Rugby World Cup 2025.”
Girls’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), Treasured Pazani (Zimbabwe, reserve referee), Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales), Holly Wooden (England).
Tv Match Officers: Leo Colgan (Eire), Rachel Horton (Australia), Quinton Immelman (South Africa), Matteo Liperini (Italy), Andrew McMenemy (Scotland), Ian Tempest (England).
