Match officials appointed for Matchweek 1 of the Gallagher Premiership - Ruck

Match officials appointed for Matchweek 1 of the Gallagher Premiership

A new season isn’t all about new faces, and when the 2018-19 Gallagher Premiership Rugby campaign gets underway this weekend, some of the most experienced officials in the business will be the men in the middle.

The campaign gets up and running with the enthralling prospect of a West Country showdown between Bristol Bears and Bath Rugby at Ashton Gate, with JP Doyle overseeing proceedings in front of the BT Sport cameras.



The Irishman takes charge of his 154th Gallagher Premiership Rugby game, with Adam Leal and Wayne Falla his assistants on the night while Rowan Kitt is installed at TMO while Buster White will be the game’s citing officer.

On Saturday, another experienced referee returns to the fold in Wayne Barnes, who takes charge of Exeter Chiefs’ meeting with Leicester Tigers at Sandy Park, which will also be shown live on BT Sport.

Barnes made it 200 not out when he oversaw Saracens’ triumph over Exeter in the Premiership Rugby Final at Twickenham back in May.

Paul Dix and Anthony Woodthorpe will be his assistants in Exeter, David Rose is TMO and Andrew Pearce fulfils the role of citing officer alongside David Barnes.

Matthew Carley referees his 75th game in the competition when he takes charge of Gloucester Rugby’s televised 2pm meeting with Northampton Saints, with Jack Makepeace and Greg Macdonald assisting.

Elsewhere, Harlequins and Sale Sharks meet at The Stoop, with Craig Maxwell-Keys the referee. Simon McConnell and Roy Maybank will assist Maxwell-Keys while the TMO is David Grashoff.


MORE LISTS:

Karl Dickson is in charge of his seventh Gallagher Premiership Rugby match as Worcester Warriors lock horns with Wasps at Sixways, Peter Allan and Philip Watters in situ as assistant referees.

And Round One comes to close on Sunday with defending Champions Saracens on the road at Newcastle Falcons. Ian Tempest takes charge, with this clash also live on BT Sport, while Tim Wigglesworth and John Meredith will be his assistants.

Friday 31 August
Bristol Bears v Bath Rugby
Ashton Gate, 7.45pm – Live on BT Sport
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant Referees: Adam Leal and Wayne Falla
TMO: Rowan Kitt
Citing Officer: Buster White
Saturday 1 September
Gloucester Rugby v Northampton Saints
Kingsholm, 2pm – Live on BT Sport
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant Referees: Jack Makepeace and Greg Macdonald
TMO: Trevor Fisher
Citing Officer: John Byett
Harlequins v Sale Sharks
Twickenham Stoop, 3pm
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant Referees: Simon McConnell and Roy Maybank
TMO: David Grashoff
Citing Officer: Paul Burke
Worcester Warriors v Wasps
Sixways, 3pm
Referee: Karl Dickson
Assistant Referees: Peter Allan and Philip Watters
TMO: Stuart Terheege.
Citing Officer: Chris Catling
Exeter Chiefs v Leicester Tigers
Sandy Park, 4.30pm – Live on BT Sport
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant Referees: Paul Dix and Anthony Woodthorpe
TMO: David Rose
Citing Officer: Andrew Pearce with David Barnes
Sunday 2 September
Newcastle Falcons v Saracens
Kingston Park, 3pm – Live on BT Sport
Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant Referees: Tim Wigglesworth and John Meredith
TMO: Sean Davey
Citing Officer: Buster White