With less than 100 days to go until Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 kicks off in Sunderland on 22 August, the panel of 22 Emirates World Rugby Match Officials have been selected for the showpiece tournament.

A total of 22 match officials (10 referees, six assistant referees and six Television Match Officials) representing 12 nations with 351 test appearances between them will take charge of the 32 matches from 22 August-27 September.

The four most-capped female referees in test history have been selected in Sara Cox (England), Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), Hollie Davidson (Scotland) and Aurélie Groizeleau (France) with nine of the panel having been involved in Women’s Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand.

Referees: 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: Maria Heitor (Portugal), Jess Ling (Australia), Amelia Luciano (USA), Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe, reserve referee), Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales), Holly Wood (England).

Television Match Officials: Leo Colgan (Ireland), Rachel Horton (Australia), Quinton Immelman (South Africa), Matteo Liperini (Italy), Andrew McMenemy (Scotland), Ian Tempest (England).

Emirates Match Official highlights:

  • Twelve nations represented on panel (Australia, England, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, Scotland, South Africa, USA, Wales, Zimbabwe).
  • Nine of the 22 officials were involved in the last Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, eight of the referees and one TMO.
  • Kat Roche (USA) was an assistant referee at New Zealand 2021 but has been named among the 10 referees for Women’s RWC 2025.
  • Two of the referees were involved in the last Women’s Rugby World Cup to be held in England in 2010, albeit in different roles with Sara Cox (England) acting as assistant referee for one play-off match and Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa) playing two matches for the Springbok Women.
  • A third official – TMO Andrew McMenemy (Scotland) – was also involved in 2010 as a referee and assistant referee before acting as TMO for the final. This is his first Rugby World Cup involvement since England 2010.
  • This will be a fifth Women’s Rugby World Cup for Cox, the English official having been an assistant referee in 2010 and 2014 and referee in 2017 and 2021.
  • Two of the Paris 2024 referees have been selected in Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand) and Kat Roche, the latter having overseen the women’s gold medal match at the Stade de France.
  • Maria Heitor becomes the first official from Portugal to be selected for a Rugby World Cup.
  • Fellow assistant referee Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe) is the first African female from outside of South Africa to officiate at a Women’s Rugby World Cup.
  • Assistant referee Jess Ling is the youngest member of the panel at 22.

Chair of the Emirates World Rugby Match Officials Selection Committee and Executive Board member, Su Carty said: “I would like to extend my congratulations to the 22 match officials selected for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in England.

“They have been selected because they are the best of the best, a team that supports and encourages each other on and off the field. The journey to this point has been challenging, rewarding and the realisation of a career’s work.

“Together, we are striving to create an environment where the world’s best players can showcase the very best of our sport on the world’s biggest stage, inspiring a whole new generation to get into rugby. I know that our team will do their families, their national unions and their sport proud in a little under 100 days.”

World Rugby Women’s High Performance Referee Manager, Alhambra Nievas said: “I’m proud to say that this is, without doubt, the strongest and most experienced match official team that has ever been selected for a Women’s Rugby World Cup.

“Eight of the 10 referees were involved in the last tournament in New Zealand, while two of our TMOs also have previous Women’s Rugby World Cup experience. It’s exciting to have such experience alongside young and talented officials as we look to the future.”

The appointments for the pool phase will be announced in early August.