LaBrèche named to Women’s World Cup officials panel

Canadian referee Rose LaBrèche has been named to the match officials panel at the 2017 Women’s World Cup in Ireland. The 28-year-old from Ottawa, Ontario, was recently named Match Official of the Year by Rugby Canada for the second consecutive year.

Currently a regular referee on the HSBC Sevens Series, LaBrèche was also selected to officiate the 2016 Olympic Games and was in the middle for the Women’s Six Nations match between Italy and Wales in February. She is one of five officials selected as an assistant for the World Cup.

A change in policy will see both women and men take charge of matches during the 2017 Women’s World Cup. In 2014 the panel was comprised entirely of women. Three men – Tim Baker, Graham Cooper, and Sean Gallagher – are among the nine senior officials named to act as referees. Only two – Claire Hodnett and Amy Perrett – reprise their roles from the 2014 tournament.

Sara Cox and World Rugby Match Official of the Year co-winner Alhambra Nievas were assistants in 2014 and have been promoted to the senior panel. Beatrice Benvenuti and Marie Lematte are retained among the assistants, and Helen O’Reilly is named an assistant after being a referee in France.

The 2017 Women’s World Cup kicks off on August 9 in Dublin.

REFEREES:
Tim Baker (HKRFU), Aimee Barrett (SARU), Graham Cooper (ARU), Sara Cox (RFU), Sean Gallagher (IRFU), Claire Hodnett (RFU), Joy Neville (IRFU), Alhambra Nievas (FER), Amy Perrett (ARU)

ASSISTANT REFEREES:
Beatrice Benvenuti (FIR), Rose LaBrèche (RC), Marie Lematte (FFR), Helen O’Reilly (IRFU), Ian Tempest (RFU)