England vs Fiji referee in tears during TV interview over guilt

Saturday, 08 November 2025 at 09:38

byCharlie Elliott

documentary, which shines a light on the experiences of officials during the tournament, the New Zealander admitted that while rugby had given him "everything," his drive to succeed had sometimes come at the expense of time with his loved ones.

Who is the England vs Fiji referee? A New Zealander will have the whistle for England's clash with Fiji in the Quilter Nations Series.

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Who is the England v Fiji referee tomorrow?

Paul Williams has quietly become one of New Zealand’s most dependable rugby referees. Born on 11 April 1985, he’s now a familiar face in both Super Rugby and international Test matches.

Tomorrow, he’ll take charge of England v Fiji in the Quilter Nations Series, another big occasion in a career built on hard work and steady progress rather than headlines.

Williams’ route into refereeing wasn’t typical. He was still playing club rugby as a halfback when he decided to give refereeing a go in 2011.

What started as a side interest soon became a new direction. His natural feel for the game and calm approach saw him rise quickly, and by 2014 he was part of New Zealand’s High Performance Referee Squad, a key step toward the professional level.

In 2016, Williams made history as the first referee from Taranaki to join the Super Rugby panel full-time. That same year, he took charge of the World Rugby U20 Championship final between England and Ireland, a sign that he was starting to make his mark internationally.

His first Test match came the following year, when he refereed Italy v Scotland in Singapore in 2017. Since then, Williams has become a regular presence in both Super Rugby and top-tier international fixtures.

In 2018, he handled eight Super Rugby games and three Tier 1 Test matches — a busy year that showed how much trust the game’s governing bodies had in him.

His performances led to selection for both the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan and the 2023 World Cup in France, where he managed high-pressure matches with the same steady hand and clear communication that have become his trademarks.

Now, as he prepares for England v Fiji, Williams continues to show why he’s considered one of the best in the business.

Williams Opens Up About the Personal Cost of Rugby Glory

Paul Williams, who officiated at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, has offered a rare, tearful insight into the sacrifices behind reaching the pinnacle of the game. Speaking for World Rugby’s Whistleblowers

"In 2011, I travelled to York to play rugby," Williams recalled. "I would never have met my wife had it not been for rugby. Rugby has given me everything, but I’m a very driven person. Something I’ve been guilty of is getting so fixated on a goal that I’ve spent less time with those closest to me."

He reflected on the unique pressure of the World Cup stage. "When you come to a World Cup, you only get one shot. You can’t turn around and say, ‘Can I do that again, please?’ My wife and I want to get on that plane, looking at each other across the aisle with our three kids in between, knowing we made the most of that opportunity."

Tears in his eyes, he added, "We want to make memories that we’ll never forget. If we can do that, then I’ll know it was a successful World Cup—not just for me, but for my family."

England vs Fiji referee

Referee: Paul Williams (NZ)
ARs: Luc Ramos (Fra) & Katsuki Furuse (Jpn)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
FPRO: Quinton Immelman (SA)

? Autumn Internationals Referees 2025

Friday, 7 November 2025

Bristol Bears v Argentina XV – Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol
Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
ARs: RFU appointments
TMO: RFU appointment

Saturday, 8 November 2025

Ireland v Japan – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
ARs: Andrea Piardi (FIR), Federico Vedovelli (FIR)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
FRPO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

Scotland v New Zealand – Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
ARs: Pierre Brousset (FFR), Morné Ferreira (SARU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FRPO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Georgia v USA – Adjarabet Arena, Batumi
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
ARs: Adam Leal (RFU), George Selwood (RFU)
TMO: Dan Jones (RFU)

England v Fiji – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
ARs: Luc Ramos (FFR), Katsuki Furuse (JRFU)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
FRPO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)

Italy v Australia – Bluenergy Stadium, Udine
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
ARs: Hollie Davidson (SRU), Sam Grove-White (SRU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
FRPO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)

France v South Africa – Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
FRPO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)

Romania v Canada – Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU)
ARs: Adam Jones (WRU), Ben Connor (WRU)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)

Portugal v Uruguay – Estádio Nacional do Jamor, Lisbon
Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
ARs: Kevin Bralley (FFR), Evan Urruzmendi (FFR)
TMO: Tual Trainini (FFR)

Spain v Ireland A – Estadio Ontime Butarque, Leganés
Referee: Tomás Bertazza (UAR)
ARs: Morgan White (HKCR), FER appointment
TMO: Paulo Duarte (FPR)

Sunday, 9 November 2025

Wales v Argentina – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
ARs: Karl Dickson (RFU), Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
FRPO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

Saturday, 15 November 2025

Italy v South Africa – Allianz Stadium, Turin
Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR), Jérémy Rozier (FFR)
TMO: Tual Trainini (FFR)
FRPO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

England v New Zealand – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
ARs: Luc Ramos (FFR), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FRPO: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Georgia v Canada – Adjarabet Arena, Batumi
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
ARs: Federico Vedovelli (FIR), Filippo Russo (FIR)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)

Romania v USA – Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
ARs: Saba Abulashvili (GRU), Peter Martin (IRFU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Wales v Japan – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
ARs: Nic Berry (RA), Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
FRPO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)

Ireland v Australia – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
ARs: Pierre Brousset (FFR), Adam Leal (RFU)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
FRPO: Dan Jones (RFU)

France v Fiji – Stade Atlantique, Bordeaux
Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Morné Ferreira (SARU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
FRPO: Stuart Terheege (RFU)

Portugal v Hong Kong China – Estádio Nacional do Jamor, Lisbon
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
ARs: Ben Breakspear (WRU), Ben Connor (WRU)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Spain v England A – Campo José Zorrilla, Valladolid
Referee: Morgan White (HKCR)
ARs: Tomás Bertazza (UAR), FER appointment
TMO: Paulo Duarte (FPR)

Sunday, 16 November 2025

Scotland v Argentina – Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
ARs: Angus Gardner (RA), Luke Pearce (RFU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
FRPO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)

Uruguay v All Blacks XV – Montpellier, France
Referee: FFR appointment
ARs: FFR appointments
TMO: FFR appointment

Saturday, 22 November 2025

Wales v New Zealand – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
ARs: Andrea Piardi (FIR), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
FRPO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Georgia v Japan – Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
ARs: Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU), Peter Martin (IRFU)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)

Spain v Fiji – Estadio Ciudad de Málaga, Málaga
Referee: Damián Schneider (UAR)
ARs: Federico Vedovelli (FIR), George Selwood (RFU)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)

Ireland v South Africa – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
ARs: Karl Dickson (RFU), Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
FRPO: Dan Jones (RFU)

Italy v Chile – Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
Referee: Adam Leal (RFU)
ARs: Adam Jones (WRU), Ben Connor (WRU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
FRPO: Stuart Terheege (RFU)

France v Australia – Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
ARs: Andrew Brace (IRFU), Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FRPO: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Portugal v Canada – Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, Coimbra
Referee: Morné Ferreira (SARU)
ARs: Saba Abulashvili (GRU), Filippo Russo (FIR)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Romania v Uruguay – Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf, Bucharest
Referee: Jérémy Rozier (FFR)
ARs: Ben Breakspear (WRU), Kevin Bralley (FFR)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)

Sunday, 23 November 2025

Scotland v Tonga – Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Referee: Luc Ramos (FFR)
ARs: Evan Urruzmendi (FFR), Benoît Rousselet (FFR)
TMO: Tual Trainini (FFR)
FRPO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

England v Argentina – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Sam Grove-White (SRU)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
FRPO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Saturday, 29 November 2025

Wales v South Africa – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Luc Ramos (FFR)
ARs: Matthew Carley (RFU), Pierre Brousset (FFR)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
FRPO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)

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