Nika Amashukeli – the Georgian ref behind the whistle at this weekend’s Calcutta Cup

This Saturday the nation will tune in to watch Scotland play England in a battle for the Calcutta Cup. Scotland will be hosting at Edinburgh’s iconic Murrayfield, putting pressure on the team to win at home.

This will be the 144th edition of the Calcutta Cup dating back to 1871. Scotland has landed an impressive home record in recent years and England will be in hot pursuit of a 13^th consecutive victory. It will definitely be one to watch in terms of physicality, passion and history.

Behind the whistle will be Georgia’s Nika Amashukeli who is part of a growing contingent of Georgian refs gaining prominence on the international rugby circuit.

Amashukeli has been on our radar for a while as a referee to watch after making history in 2023 as the first Georgian referee to ever officiate a Rugby World Cup.

His journey to becoming a referee started aged 20 when a series of injuries and concussions forced him into retirement. He was then recruited as part of a new programme to improve officiating standards in Georgia – a partnership developed with the Irish Rugby Football Union.

Despite being attacked following a domestic match during the 2025 Autumn internationals, Amashukeli decided to turn that experience into a driving force and has made it into the Six Nations to referee one of the tournament’s most iconic games.

He is known for his technical knowledge, open communication and integrity and is respected within the refereeing community.

Will Scotland manage to snatch the Calcutta Cup back? Either way, it is set to be an exciting game with Amashukeli sure to maintain a cool head under pressure.

For more information on refereeing and to get started, visit www.acmewhistles.co.uk