Canadian Maggie Cogger-Orr to referee Rugby World Cup opener in New Zealand

When South Africa and France kick off the Women's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand on Saturday, a Canadian will blow the whistle to get the party started.

Transplanted Canuck Maggie Cogger-Orr will referee the opening game at Eden Park in her adopted Auckland home. The 12-country competition was originally slated to start in September 2021 but was postponed due to the pandemic.

"I think it's a really cool opportunity to sort of kick off a tournament that's been a long time coming, with COVID and all those things like that," Cogger-Orr said. "I feel really fortunate to get to be the person to blow the first whistle to kick it all off."

Adventurers Ron Rutland and Adam Nunn have cycled 16,500 kilometres from Tokyo to Auckland to deliver the whistle for the opening match. Their 210-day, 14-country journey, dubbed Race to Rugby World Cup, is raising money for charity.

It's been a big year on the field for the 30-year-old Cogger-Orr. She made her test debut as a referee in the Women's Six Nations in Europe in April and has also officiated test matches in Australia, Japan and New Zealand.

Saturday marks her eighth test match. Cogger-Orr will also referee the Japan-Italy game and work the U.S.-Japan match as an assistant referee in opening-round games.

Her parents are flying in from Canada to take in part of the tournament.

Canadians Julianne Zussman and Chris Assmus are also serving as tournament officials — Zussman, a former Canadian international, as an assistant referee and Assmus as a television match official (TMO). Both Canadians were also part of the Women's Six Nations earlier this year.

The tournament officiating panel features 14 women — nine referees and five assistant referees — with four male TMOs.

Officials for the