Zimbabwe’s leading rugby referee Precious Pazani has been named in the team of World Rugby Emirates Match Officials selected for the three-level inaugural WXV competition to be held in New Zealand, South Africa and Dubai between October 13 to November 4.
The gifted Pazani, whose stock in international rugby has been on a meteoric rise over the last couple of years takes charge of the final warm-up match between WXV 2 rivals South Africa and Samoa.
She will be match referee between the southern hemisphere rivals at Boland Stadium, Wellington on October 7 while Giana Viljoen and Zoe Naude, both from South Africa will be the assistant referees.
Another South African Quinton Immelman will be on TMO duties.
World Rugby on Tuesday announced the match officials for the upcoming September and October women’s internationals and three-level inaugural WXV competitions held in New Zealand, South Africa and Dubai later this year.
A total of 19 match officials representing 13 nations will take charge of the 10 warm-up fixtures in September and October across seven countries in four continents, with teams and officials preparing for the further 18 matches that comprise the WXV competition.
They’re due to take place between 13 October to 4 November – the specific appointments will be made later this month.
Cape Town and Stellenbosch in South Africa will play host to the second level WXV 2 with the Springbok Women hosting Japan, Italy, Samoa, Scotland and USA with matches being played across three weekends.
WXV is a new three-level annual global women’s international 15s competition, providing for the first time a meaningful pathway for all unions and a competitive springboard towards an expanded 16-team Rugby World Cup in 2025.
New Zealand will welcome the world’s top teams –Australia, Canada, England, France and Wales – in WXV 1 across three match weekends from 20 October to 4 November.
Six referees have been named on the panel for WVX 1, all of whom took charge of matches at Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand last year, in Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand), Sara Cox (England), Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Lauren Jenner (New Zealand/FIR) and Amber McLachlan (Australia).
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said, “The fact that 13 nations are represented speaks volumes about the hard work being done around the world to develop talented women’s match officials as the sport continues its exciting growth.”
World Rugby Women’s High Performance Referee Manager, Alhambra Nievas said, “It’s an exciting time to be involved in women’s international rugby and I would like to congratulate all of the match officials that have been selected. The matches will serve as important preparation for the match officials who will build towards selection for Rugby World Cup 2025 in England.”