World Rugby has announced the appointment of referees for the Africa qualifiers to the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Scheduled to appear are four teams competing to win their place to play in New Zealand including South Africa, host country of the tournament, Kenya, Uganda and Madagascar. Considering that there isn’t yet an established African ranking for women’s fifteen-a-side rugby, the four fifteens teams were chosen on the basis of the level and frequency of play of the female players. Each team will play 3 matches on three different days and a points classification will be established. The winner of the tournament will qualify directly for the World Cup whilst the second best team will play a match against a selected team from South America and join the global repechage tournament if victorious.
This tournament schedule and match officials are as below:
9 August 2019
Madagascar vs Kenya
Referee: Saudah Adiru (Uganda)
Assessor: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
South Africa vs Uganda
Referee: Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe)
Assessor: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
13 August 2019
Kenya vs Uganda
Referee: Ashleigh Murray (South Africa)
Assessor: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
Madagascar vs South Africa
Referee: Saudah Adiru (Uganda)
Assessor: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
17 August 2019
Madagascar vs Uganda
Referee: Ashleigh Murray (South Africa)
Assessor: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
South Africa vs Kenya
Referee: Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe)
Assessor: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
‘‘We are happy to see our counter parts taking to the center, this is very encouraging more so to have our Ugandan neighbour Saudah Adiru is a real motivator to us. The upcoming generations of women referees can see that we can also do it,’’ said Beril Akinyi pictured below. 
Beryl is also a World Rugby Match Official Educator and a Level 2 Match Official.
