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