Match officials to February 17

Rebels v Force: Angus Gardner

With the Six Nations taking a break, focus shifts to the southern hemisphere where Super Rugby kicks off this weekend.

Because of the British & Irish Lions' tour to Australia, the Australian conference will start before the other two which means the tournament starts with two matches from that country.

Angus Gardner will referee the opening game between the Rebels and Western Force and Andrew Lees takes charge of the Brumbies' clash with the Reds.

Some of the other Super Rugby teams will be in action in pre-season friendlies and in the northern hemisphere there are full rounds of fixtures in the Aviva Premiership and PRO12 competitions.

Super Rugby

Rebels vs Western Force at AAMI Park, Melbourne
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Brumbies vs Reds at Canberra Stadium, Canberra
Referee: Andrew Lees (Australia)

PRO 12, Round 15

Newport Gwent Dragons vs Glasgow Warriors at Rodney Parade
Referee: Claudio Blessano (Italy)
Assistant referees: Ian Davies (Wales), Rhys Thomas (Wales
Television match official: Neil Ballard (Wales)

Scarlets vs Munster at Parc y Scarlets
Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Neil Hennessy (Wales), Simon Rees (Wales)
Television match official: Gareth Simmonds (Wales)

Leinster vs Benetton Treviso at Royal Dublin Society
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Assistant referees: David Wilkinson (Ireland), Barrie O'Connell (Ireland)
Assessor: Tim Aplin (Ireland)

Connacht vs Ospreys at Sportsground
Referee: Giuseppe Vivarini (Italy)
Assistant referees: Michael Black (Ireland), Will O'Connor (Ireland)
Television match official: Jude Quinn (Ireland)
Assessor: Michael Carroll (Ireland)

Ulster vs Zebre at Ravenhill
Referee: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Paul Haycock (Ireland), Barry O'Keeffe (Ireland)
Television match official: Peter Ferguson (Ireland)
Jack Young (Ireland)

Edinburgh vs Cardiff Blues at Murrayfield
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: David Changleng (Scotland), Bob Nevins (Scotland)
Television match official: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
Assessor: Fergus Neil (Scotland)

Aviva Premiership

Bath vs London Irish
Referee: David Rose
Assistant referees: Andrew Pearce Andrew Watson
Timekeeper: Laurie Bryant
Assessor: Gary Welsh

Harlequins vs Leicester Tigers
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant referees: Peter Huckle Ashley Rowden
Television match official: David Grashoff
Timekeeper: Roy Marfleet

Saracens vs Exeter Chiefs
Referee: Martin Fox
Assistant referees: Robin Goodliffe, Stuart Terheege
Television match official: Geoff Warren
Timekeeper: Clive Leeke
Assessor: Ed Morrison

Worcester Warriors vs Northampton Saints
Referee: Greg Garner
Assistant referees: Kevin Stewart, Paul Burton
Television match official: David Hudson
Assessor: Christopher White

London Wasps vs Gloucester
Referee: Andrew Small
Assistant referees: Gareth Copsey, Ashley Rowden
Television match official: Trevor Fisher
Timekeeper: John Burtenshaw
Assessor: Brian Campsall

London Welsh vs Sale Sharks
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant referees: Nigel Carrick, Paul Dix
Timekeeper: Eric Bullion

Assessor: Tony Spreadbury

Friendlies

Waratahs v Crusaders at Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Ian Smith (Australia), Michael Hogan (Australia)

Highlanders v Blues at the Recreation Ground, Queenstown
Referee: Chris Pollock
Assistant referees: Kane McBride, Mike Lash

Hurricanes v Chiefs at Mangatainoka RFC, Mangatainoka
Referee: Glen Jackson
Assistant referees: Richard Kelly, Cam Stone

Southern Kings v Griquas at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Marius Jonker

Pumas v Sharks at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Referee: Craig Joubert

Lions vs Border
Referee: Lesego Legoete