![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/22-May-1.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The international window is shut for a bit, but we have some huge finals this weekend. Karl Dickson (pictured top left) and Matthew Carley take charge of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup finals respectively \u2013 both played in Bilboa, Spain. There\u2019s also the SA Cup Final in South Africa where Christopher Allison referees the Griquas-Pumas finale. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s the business end of the Japanese season with quarter final play offs, and the first leg of some Promotion\/Relegation ties. Takehito Namekawa (bottom left) has the first leg of the Div1 bottom v Div 2 top to see who gets the Div 1 slot next season \u2013 it\u2019ll be one of the Toyota Shuttles and Mitsubishi Dynaboars! In France, there\u2019s ProD2 barrages (QF play offs) and the Elite 1 Feminine is back for round 16after their W6N break. Doriane Domenjo (top right) referees Toulouse v Bobigny as the hosts look to close the gap with the top team, Romagnat. And we have the MOs for the semi-finals in Spain and the Netherlands men\u2019s leagues too. <\/p>\n
In the MLR, there\u2019s a bit of a Canadian takeover on the officiating front. There\u2019s a team of 3, fronted by Robin Kaluzniak in California, where he\u2019s assisted by Team Assmus. And congrats to Emma Gallagher who makes her AR debut in the MLR as she looks after Robbie Jenkinson in Chicago. In Super Rugby, there\u2019s another round in the Americas and in the Pacific version, Reuben Keane (bottom right) gets his third run out of the season as the Moana take on the Western Force.<\/p>\n
Enjoy your weekend\u2019s rugby
Keith<\/p>\n
EPCR European Cup Finals \u2013 Bilbao<\/p>\n
Investec Champions Cup
Leinster Rugby v Union Bordeaux B\u00e8gles
Referee:\u00a0Karl Dickson\u00a0(Eng)
ARs: Christophe Ridley (Eng) & Hollie Davidson (Sco)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)<\/p>\n
Challenge Cup Final
Montpellier H\u00e9rault Rugby v Ulster
Referee:\u00a0Matthew Carley\u00a0(Eng)
ARs: Andrea Piardi (Ita) and Craig Evans (Wal)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Sco)<\/p>\n
U20 International Series<\/p>\n
Thursday 21st May (all in South Africa)
Georgia v Fiji
Referee: Juan de Bod (SA)<\/p>\n
South Africa v Chile
Referee: Diogo In\u00e1cio (Por)<\/p>\n
Tuesday 26 May
Chile v Georgia
Referee: Juan de Bod (SA)<\/p>\n
South Africa v Fiji
Referee: Dylen November (SA)<\/p>\n
Japan \u2013 League One play offs<\/p>\n
Division 1 \u2013 QF1: 4th v 5th (winner to play 2nd team \u2013 WildKnghts)
Sungoliath v Blackrams
Referee: Katsuki Furuse
ARs: Masaki Kondo & Toshimasa Sekiya
TMO: Tasuku Kawahara
FPRO: Koki Yamauchi<\/p>\n
QF2 \u2013 3rd v 6th (winner to play 1st team \u2013 Kobe Steelers)
Spears v BraveLupus
Referee: Koki Yamauchi
ARs: Katsuki Furuse & Teruki Inanishi
TMO: Yosuke Kimura
FPRO: Ibuki Tetsuka<\/p>\n
Promotion\/Relegation Div 2 (7th) v Div 3 (2nd) Playoff \u2013 1st leg
Seawaves v Rugguts
Referee: Toshimasa Sekiya
ARs: Masaki Kondo & Atsushi Yamamoto
TMO: Tomohiro Koyama
FPRO: Kazuhito Taniguchi<\/p>\n
Promotion\/Relegation Div 1(12th)v Div 2(1st) Play off \u2013 1st leg
Shuttles v Dynaboars
Referee: Takehito Namekawa
ARs: Tetsuya Hirakawa & Riki Itohuhara
TMO: Yosuke Kimura
FPRO: Nobutsugu Oda<\/p>\n
Promotion\/Relegation Div 1 (11th)v Div 2(2nd) \u2013 1st leg
Bluesharks v D-Rocks
Referee: Ibuki Tetsuka
ARs: Teruki Inanishi & Kohei Yoshino
TMO: Minoru Fuji
FPRO: Tomohiro Koyama<\/p>\n
Promotion\/Relegation Div 2(8th) v Div 3 (1st) \u2013 1st leg
Reddolphins v Skyactivs
Referee: Motonori Mizutani
ARs: Sota Ouchi & Yusaku Murata
TMO: Mayumi Takahashi
FPRO: Takahiro Kano<\/p>\n
Super Rugby Pacific 2026 \u2014 Round 15<\/p>\n
Crusaders v Chiefs
Referee: James Doleman
ARs: Marcus Playle & Fraser Hannon
TMO: Glenn Newman<\/p>\n
Waratahs v Brumbies
Referee: Ben O\u2019Keeffe
ARs: Todd Petrie & Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly<\/p>\n
Moana Pasifika v Reds
Referee: Reuben Keane
ARs: Jordan Way & Louis Trisley
TMO: Brett Cronan<\/p>\n
Hurricanes v Highlanders
Referee: Angus Gardner
ARs: Geroge Myers & Matt Kellahan
TMO: Graham Cooper<\/p>\n
Force v Fijian Drua
Referee: Paul Williams
ARs: Angus Mabey & Michael Winter
TMO: Aaron Paterson<\/p>\n
Super Rugby Americas \u2013 round 12<\/p>\n
Pampas v Cobras Brasil Rugby
Referee: Gonzalo De Achaval
ARs: Cau\u00e3 Ricardo & Sim\u00f3n Larrubia<\/p>\n
Pe\u00f1arol Rugby v Dogos XV
Referee: Tom\u00e1s Bertazza
ARs: Federico Longobardi & Armen Abi-Saab<\/p>\n
Capibaras XV v Selknam
Referee: Tom\u00e1s Ninci
ARs: Esteban Filipanics<\/p>\n
Tarucas v Yacare XV
Referee: Francisco Gonz\u00e1lez
ARs: Juan Manuel Mart\u00ednez & Pedro Lopez Vildosa<\/p>\n
England: Elior Champ Rugby \u2013 Semi-finals<\/p>\n
Semi-finals
Ealing Trailfinders v Worcester Warriors
Referee: George Selwood
ARs: Alex Thomas & Mike Woods<\/p>\n
Bedford Blues v Coventry (**Waves to a regular reader\u2026.**)
Referee: Harry Walbaum
ARs: Richard Gordon & James Clarke <\/p>\n
The Champ Relegation\/Nat 1 Promotion match<\/p>\n
London Scottish v Blackheath
Referee: Hamish Grant
ARs: Henry Pearson & Mike Hudson<\/p>\n
England: Women\u2019s Championship Final <\/p>\n
Old Albanians Saints v Richmond FC Women (at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)
Referee: Rosie Proctor (Manchester)<\/p>\n
MLR \u2013 Round 9<\/p>\n
Anthem Rugby Carolina v New England Free Jacks
Referee: Luke Rogan
ARs: Federico Anselmi & Amelia Luciano<\/p>\n
Chicago Hounds v Seattle Seawolves
Referee: Robbie Jenkinson
ARs: Derek Summers & Emma Gallagher<\/p>\n
California Legion v Old Glory DC
Referee: Robin Kaluzniak
ARs: Shanda Assmus & Chris Assmus<\/p>\n
France \u2013 ProD2 barrages<\/p>\n
Oyonnax Rugby v Valence Romans (winner to play RC Vannes in semi)
Referee: Thomas Charabas
ARs: Pierre Olivier Julien & Evan Urruzmendi
TMO: Mourad Zitouni<\/p>\n
Provence Rugby v CA Brive (winner to play Colomiers in semi)
Referee: Adrien Marbot
ARs: Thomas Chereque & Jonathan Dufort
TMO: Patrick Dellac<\/p>\n
France: Elite 1 Feminine \u2013 round 16<\/p>\n
Montpellier Herault Rugby v Blagnac Sporting Club Rugby
Referee: Julien Andreani
ARs: Thomas Martinez & Ludovic Aoust<\/p>\n
Stade Toulousain Rugby v AC Bobigny 93 Rugby
Referee: Doriane Domenjo
ARs: Kevin Garbay & Maxime Rouquie<\/p>\n
FC Grenoble Amazones v Stade Villeneuvois Lille Metropole
Referee: Matthew Keita
ARs: Redouane Moumen & Fabrice Hand<\/p>\n
Lyon OL U v Stade Bordelais
Referee: Karl Michon
ARs: Matthew Keita & Guillaume Ferrer<\/p>\n
RC Toulon Provence Mediterranee v ASM Romagnat Rugby Feminin
Referee: Victor Liaud
ARs: Lorenzo Alaimo & Sebastien Royer<\/p>\n
Spain: Division de honor (men\u2019s) \u2013 Semi-finals<\/p>\n
VRAC Quesos Entrepinares v Societe Generale Liceo Frances
Referee: Federico Javier Japas<\/p>\n
Recoletas Burgos 2031-Caja Rural v Silicius Alcobendas Rugby
Referee: Carlos Guerrero Padin<\/p>\n
Netherlands: Ereklasse (Men\u2019s) Semi-finals <\/p>\n
RC The Dukes v RC Eemland
Referee: Katherine Ritchie
ARs Liam Wright & Thomas Binns<\/p>\n
Haagsche RC v RC \u2018t Gooi
Referee: Dan O\u2019Connell
ARs: Koen Maaijen & Lars Looten<\/p>\n
South Africa: SA Cup Final (Men\u2019s)<\/p>\n
Suzuki Griquas v Airlink Pumas
Referee: Christopher Allison
ARs: Griffin Colby & Hanru van Rooyen
TMO: Egon Seconds<\/p>\n
Jakarta 10s<\/p>\n
Referees: Stefan Berder, Stephen Barber, Jacob Christensen , Roy Doe, Darroch Chua, Hj Tom Azizan, Muhammad Rean Bin Abdul Razak, Laurent Cinot, Hambali, Ari Yuda Pramono, Edwin Ahmad Sahid, M. Fachri Setiawan, Ridwan Afif, Demianus Triharto Anderi, Gusnaldi Satria PP, Wahyu Angga Ardian Utama, Eunike Octovia Taime, Merry Joana Yoku, Suci Dewi Cahyaningrum<\/p>\n
\n\tRelated<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The international window is shut for a bit, but we have some huge finals this weekend. Karl Dickson…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":685608,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[567],"tags":[64,63,760,85],"class_list":["post-685607","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-rugby","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-rugby","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/685607","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=685607"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/685607\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/685608"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=685607"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=685607"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=685607"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}