The match officials for this July’s Africa Rugby Cup action have been confirmed, with Englishman Anthony Woodthorpe taking charge of the mouth-watering Uganda verses Kenya quarterfinal showdown in France. As the World Rugby appointed officials to handle the matches as referees and assistant referees, one thing that crossed their intellect was the fact that a game that involves hostile neighbors Uganda and Kenya is one to handle with utmost caution.
So, the man in the middle during the fourth quarterfinal when East African cross boarder neighbors face off for the first time outside the region will be an expert in the field of rugby referee from England. Woodthorpe takes the whistle for the clash between two sides looking to qualify for the World Rugby Cup from Africa, with Uganda knowing they will leapfrog their neighbors if they leave France with victory.
The Englishman will put his whistle to his lips in France to get Uganda and Kenya game underway. He will be assisted by Senegalese Sylvain Mane and Aymen Jriji from Tunisia with Philippe Bonhoure providing support from upstairs in the TMO box.
Woodthorpe boasts of experience in England’s Premiership Rugby and Premiership Cup, plus Europe’s Champions and Challenge Cups. This season alone, he was assistant referee for the Premiership Cup Final, a Champions Cup semifinal, and Challenge Cup and Premiership Rugby Cup quarterfinals.
World Rugby this week appointed thirteen officials from twelve countries – six of whom are African, for the Rugby Africa Men’s Cup 2022 tournament to be held in the South of France from July 1-10. The officials appointed include ten referees (and/or assistant referees – depending on assignment) and three TMOs (Television Match Officials).
The African referees are Sylvain Mane (Senegal), Talent Gandiwa (Zimbabwe), Aymen Jriji (Tunisia), Victor Ojuku (Kenya), Nicardo Pienaar (Namibia), and Precious Pazani from Zimbabwe – the only female on the appointments list.
Five others are from France, namely; Vivien Praderie, Ludovic Cayre, Philippe Bonhoure – TMO, Denis Grenouillet – TMO, and Eric Briquet Campin – TMO. The rest are Scot Ben Blain and Englishman Anthony Woodthorpe. Uganda Rugby Cranes’ final travelling squad of twenty-eight men was named last week on Wednesday
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- Mr. Daniels N. Tatya is an affluent Sports Writer, Commentator and Editor. His over 15 years of covering almost major sporting events makes him a revered and an authority on investigative Sports journalism in Uganda. He can also be reached via [email protected] +256(0)758268315
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