World Rugby Confirms Match Official Appointments for November 2025 International Window Matches

58 World Rugby Match Officials have been confirmed for the men’s international window in November 2025, including 23 referees from 11 nations to take charge of the 34 test matches. From Asia,  that includes Morgan White and Matt Rodden (Hong Kong China Rugby), and Katsuki Furuse (JRFU).

We also learned that the Hong Kong China men will be playing Portugal on November 15th, and Japan’s venue for the match against Georgia has been confirmed.

Feature Photo Credit – HKCR – Morgan White

HKCR said online of Morgan’s appointment, “A huge congratulations to Morgan White, who has been appointed by World Rugby to referee the first match of the November International Window between Japan XV and Australia A on 18 October, and the Spain v England A game on 15 November.

Morgan has also been appointed as an assistant referee for the matches between Japan v Australia on 25 October and Spain vs Ireland A on 8 November. This is a significant milestone for Hong Kong China Rugby and the Hong Kong Rugby Referee Society!”

Morgan White officiated at the World Rugby U20 Championship 2025 and was the first referee from Hong Kong China to do so at the tournament. Matt Rodden is the Head of Refereeing at HKCR.

Katsuki Furuse (JRFU) was most recently involved in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2025.

• In total,58 officials from 15 national unions will be involved in the November internationals as referees, assistant referees, Television Match Officials or Foul Play Review Officers.
• Ten referees will each take charge of two test matches.

World Rugby also confirmed that the appointments for the Final Qualification Tournament to determine the final qualifier for the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 will be announced once the fourth team to join Belgium, Namibia, and Samoa has been confirmed on 18 October (between Paraguay and Brazil).

November 2025 Matches Featuring Asian Rugby Match Officials, Brave Blossoms, and Hong Kong China Men

The full list of match appointments for all matches in the November 2025 window can be seen here.

Japan XV v Australia A – National Stadium, Tokyo – Saturday, 18 October 2025

• Referee: Morgan White (HKCR)
• Assistant Referee 1: JRFU appointment
• Assistant Referee 2: JRFU appointment
• TMO: JRFU appointment

Japan v Australia – National Stadium, Tokyo – Saturday, 25 October 2025

• Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
• Assistant Referee 1: Angus Mabey (NZR)
• Assistant Referee 2: Morgan White (HKCR)
• TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR)
• FRPO: Matt Rodden (HKCR)

Photo Credit – HKCR – Matt Rodden

South Africa v Japan – Wembley Stadium, London – Saturday, 1 November 2025

• Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
• Assistant Referee 1: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
• Assistant Referee 2: Adam Leal (RFU)
• TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
• FRPO: Tual Trainini (FFR)

Scotland v USA – Murrayfield, Edinburgh – Saturday, 1 November 2025

• Referee: Damián Schneider (UAR)
• Assistant Referee 1: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR
• Assistant Referee 2: Katsuki Furuse (JRFU)
• TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
• FPRO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

Ireland v Japan – Aviva Stadium, Dublin – Saturday, 8 November 2025

• Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
• Assistant Referee 1: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
• Assistant Referee 2: Federico Vedovelli (FIR)
• TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
• FRPO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

England v Fiji – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham – Saturday, 8 November 2025

• Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
• Assistant Referee 1: Luc Ramos (FFR)
• Assistant Referee 2: Katsuki Furuse (JRFU)
• TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
• FPRO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)

Photo Credit – Katsuki Furuse (JRFU)

Spain v Ireland A – Estadio Ontime Butarque, Leganés – Saturday, 8 November 2025

• Referee: Tomás Bertazza (UAR)
• Assistant Referee 1: Morgan White (HKCR)
• Assistant Referee 2: FER appointment
• TMO: Paulo Duarte (FPR)

Wales v Japan – Principality Stadium, Cardiff – Saturday, 15 November 2025

• Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
• Assistant Referee 1: Nic Berry (RA)
• Assistant Referee 2: Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU)
• TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
• FPRO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)

Portugal v Hong Kong China – Estádio Nacional, Lisbon – Saturday, 15 November 2025

• Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
• Assistant Referee 1: Ben Breakspear (WRU)
• Assistant Referee 2: Ben Connor (WRU)
• TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Spain v England A – Campo José Zorrilla, Valladolid – Saturday, 15 November 2025

• Referee: Morgan White (HKCR)
• Assistant Referee 1: Tomás Bertazza (UAR)
• Assistant Referee 2: FER appointment
• TMO: Paulo Duarte (FPR)

Georgia v Japan – Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi – Saturday, 22 November 2025

• Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
• Assistant Referee 1: Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU)
• Assistant Referee 2: Peter Martin (IRFU)
• TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)

2025 International Rugby News

• Japan Rugby Football Union Confirms It Will Bid To Host Men’s Rugby World Cup 2035.
• Hong Kong China Men’s XVs Preparations & Confirmed Centralised Contracted Players – Road to RWC 2027
• Japan Brave Blossoms & Japan XV Training Squads for Remainder of 2025 Announced.
• Brave Blossoms Lipovitan D Tour 2025 Fixtures In Europe Confirmed.