Match official appointments locked in for WXV Global Series and Challenger

French referee Aurélie Groizeleau will become the fourth female to referee 50 Test matches during the WXV Global Series presented by Mitsubishi Electric.

She joins Matthew Carley (England), Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa) and Hollie Davidson (Scotland) in reaching the landmark this year, and is the fifth French official to achieve the feat.

Groizeleau is one of 10 Emirates Match Officials appointed by World Rugby to take charge of the 30 WXV Global Series 2026 fixtures taking place across 13 counties.

The 37-year-old will take charge of the opening game of the WXV Global Series campaign between England and Australia in Salford and hit her half-century the following month when she takes charge of Canada’s clash with the Red Roses in Toronto.

• WXV Global Series match official appointments
• WXV Global Series Challenger match official appointments

With Aimee Barrett-Theron taking a break from officiating to undergo treatment for breast cancer, Groizeleau, Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand), Ella Goldsmith (Australia) and Holly Wood (England) will take charge of four matches each.

Wood returns to international refereeing after the birth of her second child earlier in 2026. The former Richmond and Harlequins wing made headlines in June when she officiated the JAECOO Premiership Women’s Rugby final between Saracens and Trailfinders Women just 86 days after giving birth.

Australia’s Jess Ling will referee the final WXV Global Series fixture of the campaign of 2026 when the Springbok Women host Ireland in Cape Town on Saturday 31 October.

Six more referees will take charge of the nine matches in the WXV Global Series Challenger matches taking place in Hong Kong China.

At the WXV Global Series Challenger, Wales’ Amber Stamp-Dunstan will lead the opening match between Spain and Fiji. The WXV Global Series Challenger takes place from 13-26 September.

Hibi Ikeda (Japan) and Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe) will also take charge of fixtures in Hong Kong China on the opening weekend.

Giana Viljoen (South Africa) will make her Test debut as a referee when Fiji take on Hong Kong China on the second weekend of WXV Global Series Challenger action.

Appointments for the third round to be made after six referees from six separate unions have taken charge of one match.