World Rugby confirms Emirates Match Official appointments for Guinness Women’s Six Nations and Pacific Four Series

Aimee Barrett-Theron will become the second female to referee 50 Tests after the appointments were announced for the Guinness Women’s Six Nations, Pacific Four Series and the inaugural U21 Women’s Six Nations Series.

The Women’s Six Nations and the Pacific Four Series both get underway on Saturday, 11 April – a couple of weeks after Australia host Fiji in a one-off Test match in Canberra which Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand) will take charge of.

With Sara Cox (England) and Lauren Jenner (Italy), now the General Manager of International Rugby Match Officials (IRMO), having retired from international rugby since Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, two officials will make their Women’s Six Nations debuts in 2026 in Jess Ling (Australia) and Zoe Naude (South Africa), while Julianne Zussman (Canada) and Amber McLachlan (Australia) return in the Pacific Four Series after having children.

Eight officials representing five nations and boasting a total of 192 Tests between them will take charge of the 15 matches in the Women’s Six Nations from 11 April-17 May. A total of 29 officials from 12 nations will be involved in the championship, 12 of whom were on the RWC 2025 panel.

Barrett-Theron and Aurélie Groizeleau (France) will then join Zussman and McLachlan to referee the six matches that make up the Pacific Four Series 2026, which runs from 11-25 April. Fourteen officials in total will be involved in the tournament with matches in the United States and Australia.

Highlights

• Fourteen of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 panel have appointments across these tournaments.

• Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa) takes charge of the opening Guinness Women’s Six Nations match between France and Italy in Grenoble on 11 April.

• This match will see her become the second female to referee 50 Tests after Sara Cox, who reached the milestone during RWC 2025.

• Clara Munarini (Italy) will referee the last match, between France and England at Stade Atlantique in Bordeaux on 17 May.

• Zoe Naude (South Africa) and Jess Ling (Australia) will referee their first matches in the Women’s Six Nations with Scotland v England and Italy v England respectively.

• Four assistant referees will also make their Women’s Six Nations debuts in Emily Hope (England), Bérénice Loubet (France), Rebecca Piddlesden (England) and Beatrice Smussi (Italy).

• Estelle Whaiapu (New Zealand), Graham Cooper (Australia), Stefano Penne (Italy), Aled Griffiths (Wales), Paulo Duarte (Portugal) and Julien Castaignède (France) will act as a Television Match Official for the first time in the tournament, as will Foul Play Review Officers Finlay Brown (Scotland), Jenny Davies (Wales) and Paul Haycock (Ireland).

• In the Pacific Four Series, Julianne Zussman (Canada) takes charge of the opening match between USA and New Zealand in Sacramento on 11 April.

• Amber McLachlan (Australia) will referee her first Test since November 2023 when she officiates USA v Canada in Chicago on 24 April.

• Aurélie Groizeleau (France) referees the only match played outside of the United States, Australia v New Zealand in Queensland on 25 April.

• Assistant referees Emma Gallagher (Canada), Alexis Saari (USA) and Hibiki Ikeda (Japan), along with TMOs Cam Russell (Canada) and Derek Summers (USA), will make their Pacific Four Series debuts in 2026.

Chair of the Women’s Emirates World Rugby Match Officials Selection Committee Su Carty said: “This selection marks the start of an important journey for the Emirates World Rugby Match Officials as we build towards Women’s Rugby World Cup Australia 2029. The Guinness Women’s Six Nations, Pacific Four Series, and the WXV Global Series later this year represent exciting opportunities for a hugely motivated team. Our focus, as always, is to be well prepared, aligned and consistent in our approach while playing our role in creating the space and opportunity for teams to showcase their abilities on the world stage. Congratulations to Aimee on reaching her 50th match and to all match officials selected.”

Women’s High Performance Referee Manager Alhambra Nievas said: “We are excited to kick-off a new four-year cycle with a balance of senior leaders and upcoming young talent coming through, many of whom will benefit from the new opportunity in the pathway of the U21 Women’s Six Nations Series or in other domestic competitions around the world. I would also like to congratulate Aimee Barrett-Theron on reaching the milestone of 50 tests as a referee.”

World Rugby have also appointed officials for the inaugural U21 Women’s Six Nations Series, which runs from 18 April to 10 May. The nine matches will be refereed by officials on World Rugby’s Talent ID programme in Alexandra Férre (France), Beatrice Smussi (Italy), Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales), Bérénice Loubet (France), Giana Viljoen (South Africa), Emma Gallagher (Canada) and Emily Hope (England).

Amy Perrett, World Rugby Women’s Pathway Development Coach, added: “We are grateful for the opportunity to appoint referees to the inaugural U21 Women’s Six Nations Series. This tournament will play a significant role in solidifying and enhancing the women’s match official pathway as we look to develop more women into the elite space.”

Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby, congratulated the three South African women referees who have earned appointments in the two Women’s Six Nations competitions in the coming months, Barrett-Theron, Naude and Viljoen.

“The work done by our Referees Department to uplift and upskill our women’s match officials has just been amazing,” said Alexander.

“Over the years, Aimee has cemented her name as one of the top referees in the world and to reach 50 Tests is a well-deserved accolade and we would like to congratulate her on this achievement.

“Zoe and Giana are now where Aimee was many years ago and their appointments are just reward for the hard work they’ve been putting in. We are very proud of them and would like to wish them all the best on the missions ahead.”

Barrett-Theron will become only the fourth South African match official to take charge of 50 Tests following Jonathan Kaplan, Craig Joubert and Jaco Peyper.