World Rugby has confirmed the Emirates Match Official appointments for six women’s internationals taking place between August and October that sit outside the WXV Global Series and WXV Global Series Challenger.
The fixtures will be played across Fiji, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa and Ireland, with referees from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Italy appointed to officiate.
World Rugby also confirmed that match official appointments for the WXV Global Series 2026 and WXV Global Series Challenger 2026 will be announced in the coming weeks.
Fiji v South Africa
HFC Bank Stadium, Suva
Saturday, 8 August 2026
- Referee: Jess Ling (Australia)
- Assistant Referee 1: Amber McLachlan (Australia)
- Assistant Referee 2: Erin Doherty (New Zealand)
- TMO: Graham Cooper (Australia)
Fiji v South Africa
Churchill Park, Lautoka
Saturday, 15 August 2026
- Referee: Amber McLachlan (Australia)
- Assistant Referee 1: Jess Ling (Australia)
- Assistant Referee 2: Chloe Sampson (New Zealand)
- TMO: Rachel Horton (Australia)
New Zealand v Australia (O’Reilly Cup)
Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Saturday, 22 August 2026
The second O’Reilly Cup Test of 2026 will be officiated by New Zealand’s Maggie Cogger-Orr.
- Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand)
- Assistant Referee 1: Amber McLachlan (Australia)
- Assistant Referee 2: Jess Ling (Australia)
- TMO: Estelle Whaiapu (New Zealand)
Japan v Fiji
Japan Base, Fukuoka
Friday, 4 September 2026
- Referee: Ella Goldsmith (Australia)
- Assistant Referee 1: Lee Chui Yan Sunny (Hong Kong China)
- Assistant Referee 2: Hibiki Ikeda (Japan)
No Television Match Official was listed for this fixture by World Rugby.
South Africa v New Zealand
FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
Saturday, 5 September 2026
Part of a double-header with the third Test in the men’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, this fixture will be refereed by South Africa’s Zoe Naude.
- Referee: Zoe Naude (South Africa)
- Assistant Referee 1: Giana Viljoen (South Africa)
- Assistant Referee 2: Angie Bezuidenhout (South Africa)
- TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
Ireland v Japan
Virgin Media Park, Cork
Saturday, 3 October 2026
Ireland’s standalone Test against Japan will take place during the wider WXV international window, one week after the teams meet in the WXV Global Series in Galway.
- Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy)
- Assistant Referee 1: Holly Wood (England)
- Assistant Referee 2: Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales)
- TMO: Dan Jones (England)
WXV Appointments to Follow
These six fixtures are separate from the WXV Global Series and WXV Global Series Challenger, although Ireland’s meeting with Japan falls within the wider WXV window.
World Rugby has confirmed that Emirates Match Official appointments for both WXV competitions will be announced in the coming weeks.
Rugby Fan Central will publish those appointments, along with full tournament coverage, as preparations continue for the inaugural WXV Global Series and WXV Global Series Challenger.
