The Springboks are set to kick off their 2025 season with back-to-back fixtures against Italy before heading into a one-off clash against Georgia.
Hollie Davidson, who became the first female match official to take charge of a Springbok Test last year against Portugal in Bloemfontein, will once again be wielding the whistle for the first game of the 2025 season when they take on Italy in Pretoria on Saturday, 5 July.
Andrew Brace of Ireland (second Test against Italy on 12 July in Gqeberha) and Matthew Carley of England (Georgia Test on 19 July in Nelspruit) are the other two referees for the Springbok Tests in the Incoming Series.
FULL OFFICIALS FOR SPRINGBOKS’ TESTS
| British and Irish Lions v Argentina Aviva Stadium, Dublin Friday, 20 June, 2025 |
Referee: James Doleman (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Nika Amashukeli (GRU) Assistant Referee 2: Andrea Piardi (FIR) TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR) FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR) |
| England XV v France XV Allianz Stadium, Twickenham Saturday, 21 June, 2025 |
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU) Assistant Referee 1: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) Assistant Referee 2: Sam Grove-White (SRU) TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU) |
| Namibia v Italy Hage Geingob Stadium, Windhoek Friday, 27 June, 2025 |
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU) Assistant Referee 1: Morné Ferreira (SARU) Assistant Referee 2: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU) |
| Western Force v British and Irish Lions Optus Stadium, Perth Saturday, 28 June, 2025 |
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Paul Williams (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: James Doleman (NZR) TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU) FPRO: Glenn Newman (NZR) |
| Japan XV v Maori All Blacks Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo Saturday, 28 June, 2025 |
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Luke Pearce (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Damian Schneider (UAR) TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU) |
| Queensland Reds v British and Irish Lions Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Wednesday, 2 July, 2025 |
Referee: James Doleman (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Paul Williams (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) TMO: Glenn Newman (NZR) FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU) |
| NSW Waratahs v British and Irish Lions Allianz Stadium, Sydney Saturday, 5 July, 2025 |
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: James Doleman (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Angus Mabey (NZR) TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR) FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU) |
| New Zealand v France Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Saturday, 5 July, 2025 |
Referee: Nic Berry (RA) Assistant Referee 1: Christophe Ridley (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Takehito Namekawa (JRFU) TMO: Damon Murphy (RA) FPRO: Brett Cronan (RA) |
| Maori All Blacks v Scotland Semenoff Stadium, Whangarei Saturday, 5 July, 2025 |
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU) Assistant Referee 1: Jordan Way (RA) Assistant Referee 2: Reuben Keane (RA) TMO: Oli Kellett (RA) |
| Springboks v Italy Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Saturday, 5 July, 2025 |
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU) Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Carley (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Andrew Brace (IRFU) TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU) FPRO: Tual Trainini (FFR) |
| Argentina v England Estadio UNO Jorge Luis Hirschi, La Plata Saturday, 5 July, 2025 |
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA) Assistant Referee 1: Luc Ramos (FFR) Assistant Referee 2: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR) TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU) FPRO: Mike Adamson (SRU) |
| Japan v Wales Mikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu Saturday, 5 July, 2025 |
Referee: Damian Schneider (UAR) Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Luke Pearce (RFU) TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU) FPRO: Glenn Newman (NZR) |
| USA v Belgium American Legion Memorial Stadium, Charlotte, NC Saturday, 5 July, 2025 |
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU) Assistant Referee 1: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) Assistant Referee 2: Morné Ferreira (SARU) TMO: Cam Russell (RC) |
| Chile v Romania Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago Saturday, 5 July, 2025 |
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR) Assistant Referee 1: Francisco Gonzalez (URU) Assistant Referee 2: Gonzalo de Achaval (UAR) TMO: Marcelo Pilaro (UAR) |
| Brazil v Argentina XV Venue TBC Saturday, 5 July, 2025 |
Referee: Robin Kaluzniak (RC) Assistant Referee 1: Frank Mendez (Chile) Assistant Referee 2: Caua Ricardo (CBR) TMO: TBC |
| Georgia v Ireland Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi Saturday, 5 July, 2025 |
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR) Assistant Referee 1: Adam Leal (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Ben Whitehouse (WRU) TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR) |
| Australia v Fiji McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle Sunday, 6 July, 2025 |
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Angus Mabey (NZR) TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR) FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZR) |
| ACT Brumbies v British and Irish Lions GIO Stadium, Canberra Wednesday, 9 July, 2025 |
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Paul Williams (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Nika Amashukeli (GRU) TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU) FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR) |
| Invitational Australia and New Zealand v British and Irish Lions Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Saturday, 12 July, 2025 |
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR) Assistant Referee 1: Nika Amashukeli (GRU) Assistant Referee 2: Pierre Brousset (FFR) TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR) FPRO: Marius Jonker (SARU) |
| New Zealand v France Sky Stadium, Wellington Saturday, 12 July, 2025 |
Referee: Christophe Ridley (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Nic Berry (RA) Assistant Referee 2: Takehito Namekawa (JRFU) TMO: Brett Cronan (RA) FPRO: Damon Murphy (RA) |
| Springboks v Italy Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha Saturday, 12 July, 2025 |
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU) Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Carley (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Hollie Davidson (SRU) TMO: Tual Trainini (FFR) FPRO: Andrew Jackson (RFU) |
| Argentina v England Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan Saturday, 12 July, 2025 |
Referee: Luc Ramos (FFR) Assistant Referee 1: Angus Gardner (RA) Assistant Referee 2: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR) TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU) FPRO: Olly Hodges (IRFU) |
| Japan v Wales Noevir Stadium, Kobe Saturday, 12 July, 2025 |
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (RFU) Assistant Referee 2 Damian Schneider (UAR) TMO: Glenn Newman (NZR) FPRO: Ian Tempest (RFU) |
| Fiji v Scotland HFC Bank Stadium, Suva Saturday, 12 July, 2025 |
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Jordan Way (RA) Assistant Referee 2: Reuben Keane (RA) TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR) |
| USA v Spain American Legion Memorial Stadium, NC Saturday, 12 July, 2025 |
Referee: Morné Ferreira (SARU) Assistant Referee 1: Sam Grove-White (SARU) Assistant Referee 2: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) TMO: Cam Russell (RC) |
| Uruguay v Romania Estadio Charrua, Montevideo Saturday, 12 July, 2025 |
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU) Assistant Referee 1: Federico Vedovelli (FIR) Assistant Referee 2: Caua Ricardo (CBR) TMO: Marcelo Pilara (UAR) |
| Canada v Belgium Clarke Stadium, Edmonton, Alberta Saturday, 12 July, 2025 |
Referee: Gonzalo De Achaval (UAR) Assistant Referee 1: Angus Mabey (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Luke Rogan (USA) TMO: Mike Kelly (USA) |
| Portugal v Ireland Estadio Nacional do Jamor, Lisbon Saturday, 12 July, 2025 |
Referee: Adam Leal (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Ben Whitehouse (WRU) TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR) |
| Canada v Spain Clarke Stadium, Edmonton, Alberta Friday, 18 July, 2025 |
Referee: Angus Mabey (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Gonzalo de Achaval (UAR) Assistant Referee 2: Luke Rogan (USA) TMO: Mike Kelly (USA) |
| Samoa v Scotland Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand Friday, 18 July, 2025 |
Referee: Jordan Way (RA) Assistant Referee 1: Nic Berry (RA) Assistant Referee 2: Tevita Rokovereni (FRU) TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU) |
| Argentina XV v Romania Club Atletico San Isidro, CASI, Buenos Aires Friday, 18 July, 2025 |
Referee: Francisco Gonzalez (URU) Assistant Referee 1: Caua Ricardo (CBR) Assistant Referee 2: Frank Mendez (Chile) TMO: TBC |
| Springboks v Georgia Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit Saturday, 19 July, 2025 |
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Hollie Davidson (SRU) Assistant Referee 2: Adam Leal (RFU) TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU) FPRO: Tual Trainini (FFR) |
| Argentina v Uruguay Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta Saturday, 19 July, 2025 |
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR) Assistant Referee 1: Craig Evans (WRU) Assistant Referee 2: Federico Vedovelli (FIR) TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU) |
| USA v England Audi Field, Washington DC Saturday, 19 July, 2025 |
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) Assistant Referee 1: Morné Ferreira (SARU) Assistant Referee 2: Sam Grove-White (SRU) TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR) |
| Australia v British and Irish Lions Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Saturday, 19 July, 2025 |
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Nika Amashukeli (GRU) Assistant Referee 2: Andrea Piardi (FIR) TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR) FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR) |
| First Nations and Pasifika XV v British and Irish Lions Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Stadium Tuesday, 22 July, 2025 |
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU) Assistant Referee 1: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Andrea Piardi (FIR) TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU) FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZR) |
| Australia v British and Irish Lions MCG Stadium, Melbourne Saturday, 26 July, 2025 |
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR) Assistant Referee 1: Nika Amashukeli (GRU) Assistant Referee 2: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR) FPRO: Marius Jonker (SARU) |
| Australia v British and Irish Lions Accor Stadium, Sydney Saturday, 2 August, 2025 |
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU) Assistant Referee 1: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Andrea Piardi (FIR) TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU) FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZR) |
FIXTURES:
TBC: vs Barbarians, TBC, TBC
5 July: vs Italy, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
12 July: vs Italy, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
19 July: vs Georgia, Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
16 August: vs Australia, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
23 August: vs Australia, DHL Stadium, Cape Town
6 September: vs New Zealand, Auckland
13 September: vs New Zealand, Wellington
27 September: vs Argentina, Kings Park, Durban
4 October: vs Argentina, London
1 November: vs Wales, Cardiff
8 November: vs France, Paris
15 November: vs Italy, Turin
22 November: vs Ireland, Dublin
*SA Rugby are working on adding two more Tests for the Springboks, likely to be against Japan and Portugal
HOW MANY GAMES DO YOU THINK THE BOKS WILL WIN?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
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Meanwhile, here is an important reminder on ticket sales for the Springbok men’s game against Argentina in the Rugby Championship at Twickenham in October.
Ticket sales
Tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster.co.uk and England Rugby, starting from just £55* for adults and £28* for Under-16s.
(*booking fees apply)
