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.
| Country | Officials | Ranking |
| England | 3 | (#1) |
| Australia | 3 | (#6) |
| Italy | 3 | (#8) |
| South Africa | 2 | (#12) |
| NZ | 2 | (#3) |
| Scotland | 2 | (#7) |
| USA | 2 | (#9) |
| France | 1 | (#4) |
| Portugal | 1 | (#23) |
| Wales | 1 | (#10) |
| Ireland | 1 | (#5) |
| Zimbabwe | 1 | (#50) |
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 panel
Referees (10)
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 (6)
Maria Heitor (Portugal)
Jess Ling (Australia)
Amelia Luciano (USA)
Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe, reserve referee)
Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales)
Holly Wood (England)
Television Match Officials (6)
Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Rachel Horton (Australia)
Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
Ian Tempest (England)
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 warm-up matches
The best that Canada got from World Rugby were two warm up matches between Brazil and the Netherlands. Brazil are the lowest ranked team at the World Cup and the Netherlands didn’t make the World Cup. Kristine Lovatt and Emma Gallagher were assigned to those matches. The glaring omission is Shanda Assmus, she regularly officiates in the BC Premier and was the only Canadian woman who was on the MLR officiating panel, she was Assistant Referee in 7 MLR matches this season, plus she was Assistant Referee in the Pacific Four Series this year. This feels like an insult and hopefully Rugby Canada will ask for a detailed explanation.
| South Africa v Canada Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Saturday, 5 July, 2025 |
Referee: Clara Munarini (FIR) Assistant Referee 1: Precious Pazani (ZRU) Assistant Referee 2: Zoe Naude (SARU) TMO: Egon Seconds (SARU |
| New Zealand v Australia SKY Stadium, Wellington Saturday, 12 July, 2025 |
Referee: Kat Roche (USAR) Assistant Referee 1: Natarsha Ganley (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Jess Ling (RA) TMO: Rachel Horton (RA) FPRO: Estelle Whaiapu (NZR) |
| South Africa v Canada Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) Saturday, 12 July, 2025 |
Referee: Precious Pazani (ZRU) Assistant Referee 1: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) Assistant Referee 2: Zoe Naude (SARU) TMO: Christie du Preez (SARU) |
| Brazil v Netherlands Estádio Du Cambusano, Jacareí Saturday, 12 July, 2025 |
Referee: Emma Gallagher (RC) Assistant Referee 1: Kristine Lovatt (RC) Assistant Referee 2: Host Union appointment |
| Japan v Spain Mikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu Saturday, 19 July, 2025 |
Referee: Lauren Jenner (FIR) Assistant Referee 1: Precious Pazani (ZRU) Assistant Referee 2: Hibiki Ikeda (JRFU) |
| USA v Fiji Audi Field, Washington DC Saturday, 19 July, 2025 |
Referee: Sara Cox (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Kat Roche (USAR) Assistant Referee 2: Amelia Luciano (USAR) TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU) FPRO: Austin Reed (USAR) |
| Brazil v Netherlands Estádio Nicolau Alayon, São Paulo Saturday, 19 July, 2025 |
Referee: Kristine Lovatt (RC) Assistant Referee 1: Emma Gallagher (RC) Assistant Referee 2: Host Union appointment TMO: Marcelo Pilara (UAR) |
| Italy v Scotland Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana Friday, 25 July, 2025 |
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Maria Heitor (FPR) Assistant Referee 2: Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU) TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU) |
| Australia v Wales Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane Saturday, 26 July, 2025 |
Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Natarsha Ganley (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Jess Ling (RA) TMO: Rachel Horton (RA) FPRO: Oli Kellett (RA) |
| Japan v Spain Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo Saturday, 26 July, 2025 |
Referee: Lauren Jenner (FIR) Assistant Referee 1: Precious Pazani (ZRU) Assistant Referee 2: Hibiki Ikeda (JRFU) |
| Australia v Wales North Sydney Oval, Sydney Friday, 1 August, 2025 |
Referee: Natarsha Ganley (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Jess Ling (RA) TMO: Rachel Horton (RA) FPRO: Oli Kellett (RA) |
| Canada v USA TD Place Stadium, Ottawa Friday, 1 August, 2025 |
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (RA) Assistant Referee 1: Kat Roche (USAR) Assistant Referee 2: Amelia Luciano (USAR) TMO: Chris Assmus (RC) |
| Ireland v Scotland Virgin Media Park, Cork Saturday, 2 August, 2025 |
Referee: Clara Munarini (FIR) Assistant Referee 1: Holly Wood (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU) TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR) |
| England v Spain Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Leicester Saturday, 2 August, 2025 |
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Sara Cox (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Maria Heitor (FPR) TMO: TBC |
| Fiji v Samoa Lautoka Saturday, 9 August, 2025 |
Referee: Natarsha Ganley (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Jess Ling (RA) Assistant Referee 2: Chloe Sampson (NZR) |
| Ireland v Canada Kingspan Stadium, Belfast Saturday, 9 August, 2025 |
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Lauren Jenner (FIR) Assistant Referee 2: Berenice Bralley (FFR) TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU) |
| France v England Stade Guy et Andre Boniface, Mont de Marsan Saturday, 9 August, 2025 |
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) Assistant Referee 1: Clara Munarini (FIR) Assistant Referee 2: Maria Heitor (FPR) TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU) |
| Italy v Japan Stadio San Michele, Calvisano Saturday, 9 August, 2025 |
Referee: Sara Cox (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Holly Wood (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU) |