Sara Cox makes history
Sara Cox will make history when she becomes the first female to referee a Gallagher Premiership Rugby league match this weekend.
Cox, who will become the 91st different referee to officiate a top-flight game, was supposed to make her Gallagher Premiership Rugby refereeing debut last season in a clash between Worcester Warriors and Gloucester Rugby, only for a COVID-19 cancellation to prevent that moment of history.
Instead, it will come at the Stoop on Saturday afternoon when she will be in charge for defending champions Harlequins’ home opener against the Warriors, ably supported by assistants Jack Makepeace and Rob Warburton. Stuart Terheege is the TMO.
So far to date, Cox has refereed 23 women’s Test matches, run the line in 11 Gallagher Premiership Rugby encounters, and been on TMO duties twice.
In 2018, she oversaw proceedings for Wasps against Northampton in the Premiership Rugby Cup, the first time a woman had done that and will write her name in the record books again on Saturday.
The first action of Round 2 sees Leicester Tigers travel to Gloucester for a Friday night clash at Kingsholm.
Tom Foley will oversee proceedings, with Anthony Woodthorpe and Paul Dix on assistant referee duties, while the ever-experienced Wayne Barnes will be the TMO.
Saturday sees Newcastle Falcons make the long journey down to the West Country to face off against Bath Rugby.
Craig Maxwell-Keys is tasked with refereeing responsibilities, with Dean Richards and John Meredith running the sidelines, as David Rose will be the TMO for the north v south clash.
Wasps welcome Bristol Bears for their Gallagher Premiership Rugby opener, which will be officiated by Karl Dickson, supported by Ian Tempest and Gareth Holsgrove.
Meanwhile, Rob Baxter’s Exeter Chiefs will be looking get back to winning ways when they face Northampton Saints on Saturday.
Last season’s losing finalists fell to a rampant Leicester Tigers side last weekend, while Northampton registered an impressive 34-20 win over Gloucester.
Christophe Ridley is the man in the middle for the clash at Sandy Park, with George Selwood and Wayne Falla on assistant duties.
And Sunday sees Sale Sharks make the trip down to the big smoke when they take on Declan Kidney’s London Irish for final match of the weekend.
Fresh off his TMO duties on Friday night, Wayne Barnes is back in the middle for clash at the Brentford Community Stadium, while Andrew Jackson and Jamie Leahy are tasked with assistant duties and Tom Foley is the TMO.
FRIDAY 24 SEPTEMBER
Gloucester v Leicester Tigers (Kingsholm Stadium) – Live on BT Sport 1HD, programme starts at 7pm, kick-off at 7.45pm
Referee: Tom Foley
Assistant Referees: Anthony Woodthorpe and Paul Dix
TMO: Wayne Barnes
Citing Officer: Duncan Bell
SATURDAY 25 SEPTEMBER
Bath v Newcastle Falcons (The Recreation Ground) – kick-off at 3pm
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant Referees: Dean Richards and John Meredith
TMO: David Rose
Citing Officer: Dave Guyan
Wasps v Bristol Bears (Coventry Building Society Arena) – Live on BT Sport 2HD, programme starts at 2:30pm, kick-off at 3pm
Referee: Karl Dickson
Assistant Referees: Ian Tempest and Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: Claire Hodnett
Citing Officer: Chris Catling
Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints (Sandy Park) – Kick-off at 3pm
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant Referees: George Selwood and Wayne Falla
TMO: Rowan Kitt
Citing Officer: Paul Hull
Harlequins v Worcester Warriors (Twickenham Stoop) – Kick-off at 3pm
Referee: Sara Cox
Assistant Referees: Jack Makepeace and Rob Warburton
TMO: Stuart Terheege
Citing Officer: Dane Zamboulis
SUNDAY 26 SEPTEMBER
London Irish v Sale Sharks (Brentford Community Stadium) – Live on BT Sport 1HD, programme starts at 2pm, kick-off at 3pm
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant Referees: Andrew Jackson and Jamie Leahy
TMO: Tom Foley
Citing Officer: Buster White
