IRFU official Joy Neville will make her return from maternity leave when she takes charge of the opening match of the 2022 TikTok Women’s Six Nations, Scotland against England.
Neville, who refereed the 2017 World Cup final, was on TMO duty during last year’s Championship, but she is back with the whistle for the game at the DAM Health Stadium.
She will also be in charge when Wales welcome Scotland to Cardiff Arms Park in Round 2, while she will act as assistant at the same venue for the visit of France and Les Bleues’ home game against England in Bayonne later in the Championship.
Among the 11 referees from 10 unions who will be involved this year, four will be making their TikTok Women’s Six Nations debuts.
NZR’s Maggie Cogger-Orr will make her bow in Round 4 when she takes charge of France’s trip to Cardiff and she will also referee the final game of this year’s Championship: Ireland’s match against Scotland in Belfast.
Lauren Jenner makes her first appearance in the same weekend as her countrywoman, as she has Italy’s clash with Scotland in Parma.
USA’s Kat Roche takes charge of Ireland against Wales in Dublin during the opening weekend as well as England’s trip to Italy in Round 2, while England v Wales at Gloucester in Round 3 will be officiated by Julianne Zussman of Canada.
These new faces complement the experienced officials who will be making their fourth appearance at the TikTok Women’s Six Nations: Sara Cox, Aimee Barrett-Theron, Hollie Davidson, Aurélie Groizeleau and Clara Munarini.
The Championship is returning to its traditional format of five rounds of fixtures this year, after the teams were split into two pools of three before a Super Saturday Finals Day in 2021.
The full match appointments are as follows:
ROUND 1
Scotland v England – Saturday, 26 March, 2022, Kick-off 12:00 Venue: DAM Health Stadium Edinburgh Referee: Joy Neville (IRFU) Assistant Referee 1: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR) Assistant Referee 2: Maria Beatrice Benvenuti (FIR) TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
Ireland v Wales – Saturday, 26 March, 2022. Kick-off 16:45 Venue: RDS Arena, Dublin Referee: Kat Roche (USAR) Assistant Referee 1: Hollie Davidson (SRU) Assistant Referee 2: Nikki O’Donnell (RFU) TMO: Claire Hodnett (RFU)
France v Italy – Sunday, 27 March, 2022. Kick-off 15:00 Venue: Stade des Alpes, Grenoble Referee: Sara Cox (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) Assistant Referee 2: Precious Pazani (ZIM) TMO: Chris Assmus (RC)
ROUND 2
France v Ireland – Saturday, 2 April, 2022. Kick-off 14:15 Venue: Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) Assistant Referee 1: Clara Munarini (FIR) Assistant Referee 2: Precious Pazani (ZIM) TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
Wales v Scotland – Saturday, 2 April, 2022. Kick-off 16:45 Venue: Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff Referee: Joy Neville (IRFU) Assistant Referee 1: Nikki O’Donnell (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Katherine Ritchie (RFU) TMO: Chris Assmus (RC)
Italy v England – Sunday, 3 April, 2022. Kick-off 15:00 Venue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma Referee: Kat Roche (USAR) Assistant Referee 1: Hollie Davidson (SRU) Assistant Referee 2: Doriane Domenjo (FFR) TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
ROUND 3
England v Wales – Saturday, 9 April, 2022. Kick-off 16:45 Venue: Kingsholm, Gloucester Referee: Julianne Zussman (RC) Assistant Referee 1: Hollie Davidson (SRU) Assistant Referee 2: Maria Latos (GER) TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
Scotland v France – Sunday, 10 April, 2022. Kick-off 13:00 Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow Referee: Clara Munarini (FIR) Assistant Referee 1: Nikki O’Donnell (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Maria Giovanna Pacifico (FIR) TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
Ireland v Italy – Sunday, 10 April, 2022. Kick-off 17:00 Venue: Musgrave Park, Cork Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Doriane Domenjo (FFR) Assistant Referee 2: Francesca Martin (WRU) TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
ROUND 4
Wales v France – Friday, 22 April, 2022. Kick-off 20:00 Venue: Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Joy Neville (IRFU) Assistant Referee 2: Maria Beatrice Benvenuti (FIR) TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Italy v Scotland – Saturday, 23 April, 2022. Kick-off 19:20 Venue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma Referee: Lauren Jenner (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Sara Cox (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Katherine Ritchie (RFU) TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
England v Ireland – Sunday, 24 April, 2022. Kick-off 12:00 Venue: Welford Road, Leicester Referee: Amber McLachlan (RA) Assistant Referee 1: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR) Assistant Referee 2: Doriane Domenjo (FFR) TMO: Lee Jeffrey (NZR)
ROUND 5
Wales v Italy – Saturday, 30 April, 2022. Kick-off 12:00 Venue: Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff Referee: Amber McLachlan (RA) Assistant Referee 1: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR) Assistant Referee 2: Maria Latos (GER) TMO: Claire Hodnett (RFU)
France v England – Saturday, 30 April, 2022. Kick-off 14:15 Venue: Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU) Assistant Referee 1: Joy Neville (IRFU) Assistant Referee 2: Maria Giovanna Pacifico (FIR) TMO: Lee Jeffrey (NZR)
Ireland v Scotland – Saturday, 30 April, 2022. Kick-off 20:00 Venue: Kingspan Stadium, Belfast Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Clara Munarini (FIR) Assistant Referee 2: Francesca Martin (WRU) TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
