Category Archives: Referee

Officiating Updates – September 2026

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Level 1 Officiating Courses Offered in September in Courtenay, Abbotsford, Victoria, Vancouver

The BCRU are putting on Level 1 Officiating courses in Courtenay, Abbotsford, Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna, Coquitlam, Vernon, Cranbrook, Terrace this season from September to May. There are four in September in Courtenay, Abbotsford, Victoria, Vancouver and one in October in Kelowna. It’s important to get new officials continually coming through the system to support the approximately 700 senior league games this season, not to mention the junior club games and the high school games in the spring. The information from the BCRU and registration link is below.

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Referee Updates – August 2026

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Four Canadian Match Officials Appointed to 2026 WXV Matches in September/October

Canadian Match Officials Julianne Zussman (Referee), Emma Gallagher (Referee, Assistant Referee), Kristine Lovatt (Assistant Referee) and Cam Russell (FPRO, TMO) have been appointed to the 2026 WXV Global Series & Global Series Challenger matches taking place this September and October. The WXV series is for the top tier nations, the WXV Challenger is for upcoming nations. Julianne Zussman has been selected to referee two of the WXV matches, and Emma Gallagher one of the WXV Challenger matches. The match schedules involving Canadian officials are listed below, also the World Rugby profile for Julianne Zussman is posted below.

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Referee News – June 2026

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CTV Article on Robin Kaluzniak: Edmonton Teacher Referees Major League Rugby Final

This was a story we missed from last weekend when the Chicago Hounds with three Canadians in the roster won the MLR title. The referee in the match was Edmonton teacher, Robin Kaluzniak. The article from CTV News is posted below. We took a quick look through our recent archives, 2023 he was in Nairobi, Kenya reffing the Junior World Rugby Trophy tournament. In 2024 he was announced as one of the referees in the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series, then was assistant referee in two USA international tests against Romania and Scotland. Also in 2024 and 2025 he shows up in the archives reffing MLR matches. Going farther back we have an article from 2017 when he was assistant referee in the Americas Rugby Championship held in Langford. The CTV article mentions he’ll be AR at some USA test matches this summer. Congrats Robin!

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World Rugby Updates – Tackle Height in Community Rugby

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World Rugby Issued Media Release Today on Tackle Height: Coaches Can Register for Zoom Session with Chris Assmus Tonight at 7pm – Also Included BC Rugby Education Video on Tackle Height and  Head Contact Review

World Rugby issued a media release today (see below) stating they have, “approved adoption into full law a lower tackle height in community rugby, following positive trials over the last two years”. BC have been playing sternum height tackling so there shouldn’t be a lot of impact come July 1st. If you want further clarification, Chris Assmus is hosting a zoom session tonight for coaches at 7pm, you can register at this link. Also the video below featuring Chris on the BC Rugby Education channel covers the topic of tackle height and head contact review, it was posted four days ago so is up to date.

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Officiating Updates – February 2026

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Julianne Zussman and Emma Gallagher Feature in World Rugby Officiating Appointments

Julianne Zussman gets two appointments in the Pacific Four series, she’s the referee for USA v NZ on April 11th in Sacramento and then USA v Australia on April 17th in Kansas City. Emma Gallagher and Kristine Lovatt are the ARs in both of those matches. Cam Russell is TMO for both of those matches as well. Gallagher is also AR in the USA v Canada match on April 24th in Chicago.

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Officiating Updates – September 2025

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So You Want to Become a World Rugby Citing Commissioner: Invitation for Candidates and Course Application

The Rugby Americas North (RAN) region is putting out an invitation for candidates who wish to apply to become a World Rugby Citing Commissioner. If you’re interested there’s two tasks to follow prior to October 6th, 2025. According to the RAN website, “candidates will be subsequently notified whether their application is successful or not.” The full RAN article is posted below, along with links to the application process. One of the course instructors is BC’s Bruce Kuklinski, a well known local referee and a World Rugby Citing Commissioner Educator. As his BC Rugby Hall of Fame profile notes, he “is one of the most successful and influential Rugby Officials that British Columbia has seen”.

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BCRU logo 2024

Officiating Courses – July Update

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BCRU Offering Level 1 Officiating Courses in Victoria, Comox, Vancouver, Surrey, Abbotsford, Salmon Arms

The BCRU are running Level 1 Officiating courses in September and October in the following locations. Their media release is posted below with a highlight on local referee Kristine Lovatt who recently officiated the Brazil vs Netherlands match.  The registration page is here.

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World Rugby Officiating Selections

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Canada Only Country in Women’s Top 10 to Have Zero Representation on Women’s World Rugby 2025 Officiating Panel

You would think being #2 in the World that there would be some Canadian officiating representation at the Women’s Rugby World Cup to be held in England later this year. All the top 10 ranked countries have representation among the 22 officials selected… except Canada. England, Australia, Italy all have 3 selections, South Africa, NZ, Scotland, USA have 2. There are singles from France, Portugal, Wales, Ireland and Zimbabwe.

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WXV 2024 Match Official Appointments

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Three BC Match Officials Assigned to World Rugby WXV Tournaments, Shanda Assmus, Chris Assmus and Julianne Zussman

Three BC match officials have been named to the World Rugby appointments for the WXV tournaments. Julianne Zussman will officiate at WXV 1 in Vancouver, Chris Assmus will be TMO at WXV 2 in South Africa and  Shanda Assmus will officiate at WXV 3 in Dubai. All tournaments take place over September and October this year.

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Match Official Updates – May 2024

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Canadian Match Official Appointments This Summer for Internationals and Olympics:  Talal Chaudhry, Robin Kaluzniak, Chris Assmus, Shanda Assmus, Julianne Zussman

There were a number of Canadian match official appointments made this summer by World Rugby. Talal Chaudhry was selected for Rugby 7s at the Olympics, he’ll be working in the women’s tournament. Robin Kaluzniak will be Assistant Referee in two test matches this summer, USA vs Romania and USA vs Scotland. Chris Assmus will be the TMO at the USA vs Scotland match.

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