SA referee Aimee Barrett-Theron to make United Rugby Championship debut

South Africa’s Aimee Barrett-Theron will make her United Rugby Championship debut this weekend when she becomes just the third female referee to appear in the league.

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Barrett-Theron follows in the footsteps of Hollie Davidson (Scotland) who made her debut in March 2021 and Ireland’s Joy Neville who blew her first match in February 2018.

The former South African international fullback has been appointed to referee the Round 4 clash between Italian side Benetton and Ospreys of Wales in Treviso on Saturday, 16 October.

Kick-off is at 16:05 SA time.

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Aimee Barrett-Theron made her Test debut as referee in 2016 (Fiji v Japan) and also officiated in the Women’s Six Nations before earning an appointment as part of the match official panel at the Rugby World Cup in Ireland in 2017.

Barrett-Theron took up refereeing in 2014 having hung up her playing boots after appearing in two Rugby World Cups. She represented South Africa at both XV-women and Sevens level.

Barrett-Theron will not be the only South Africa match official in action in Round 4 of the tournament after Marius van der Westhuizen was appointed to handle the Leinster v Scarlets match, also on Saturday (18:15 SA time).

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MATCH OFFICIALS FOR ROUND 4 OF THE UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP:

All times SA

FRIDAY, 15 OCTOBER:

Ulster Rugby v Lions

Kingspan Stadium, Belfast – 20.35

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 56th league game)

AR 1: Robert O’Sullivan (IRFU) AR 2: Dermot Blake (IRFU)

TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)

Dragons v Stormers

Rodney Parade, Newport – 20.35

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 11th league game)

AR 1: Gwyn Morris (WRU) AR 2: Ben Breakspear (WRU)

TMO: Emanuele Tomo (FIR)

SATURDAY, 16 OCTOBER:

Zebre v Glasgow Warriors

Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma – 14.00

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 69th league game)

AR 1: Riccardo Angelucci (FIR), AR 2: Dario Merli (FIR),

TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)

Benetton Rugby v Ospreys

Stadio Comunable Di Monigo, Treviso – 16.05

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU, league debut)

AR 1: Filippo Russo (FIR), AR 2: Alex Frasson (FIR),

TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)

Leinster v Scarlets

RDS, Dublin – 18.15

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU, 5th league game)

AR 1: Stuart Gaffikin (IRFU), AR 2: Shane Kierans (IRFU),

TMO: Paul Larter (SRU)

Edinburgh v Bulls  

The DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh – 18.15

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 77th league game)

AR 1: Ben Blain (SRU), AR 2: Graeme Ormiston (SRU),

TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU)

Munster v Connacht

Thomond Park, Limerick – 20.35

Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 12th league game)

AR 1: Frank Murphy (IRFU), AR 2: Paul Haycock (IRFU)

TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)

Cardiff Rugby v Sharks

Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff – 20.35

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 18th league game)

AR 1: TBC AR 2: Wayne Davies (WRU)

TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)