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Match officials confirmed for Women’s Six Nations and Pacific Four 2026
By Lucy Lomax
World Rugby has confirmed the Emirates match official appointments for the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations, Pacific Four Series, and the inaugural U21 Women’s Six Nations Series as a new Women’s Rugby World Cup cycle begins.
Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa) will become only the second female to referee 50 tests, after retired official Sara Cox reached the milestone during the 2025 World Cup, when taking charge of the Women’s Six Nations opener in France as Les Bleues take on Italy.
Eight officials representing five nations and boasting a total of 192 tests between them will take charge of the 15 matches in the Women’s Six Nations from 11th April-17th May.
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Clara Munarini (Italy) will referee the final match of the Championship between France and England at Stade Atlantique in Bordeaux on 17th May.
Zoe Naude (South Africa) and Jess Ling (Australia) will take charge of their first Women’s Six Nations fixtures with Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand) to referee the one-off test match in Canberra between Australia and Fiji in March.
The Women’s Six Nations and Pacific Four Series both get underway on Saturday 11th April – with Julianne Zussman (Canada) and Amber McLachlan (Australia) returning to the Pacific Four Series officiating ranks after having children.
Barrett-Theron and Aurélie Groizeleau (France) will then join Zussman and McLachlan to referee the six matches that make up the Pacific Four Series 2026, which runs from 11-25th April in the United States and Australia.
World Rugby have also appointed officials for the inaugural U21 Women’s Six Nations Series, which runs from 18th April to 10th May.
The nine matches will be refereed by officials on World Rugby’s Talent ID programme in Alexandra Férre (France), Beatrice Smussi (Italy), Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales), Bérénice Loubet (France), Giana Viljoen (South Africa), Emma Gallagher (Canada) and Emily Hope (England).
To view all World Rugby match officials for the three tournaments, please click here.
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