Lions v Queensland Reds referee was caught up in 'throat-slitting' incident

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Hailing from Tauranga, New Zealand, James Doleman spent much of his youth in the Philippines and China, starting his refereeing career while still a student. His first game was in 2007 at just 16 — an under-nines school tournament match in Hong Kong. By his own admission, it was “rubbish.”

Fast forward, and after officiating the 2019 World Rugby Under-20 Championship final, he took charge of his first Super Rugby game in 2020. His international refereeing debut came the year before his big break in the 2022 Australia vs England Test series opener.

Doleman made his Six Nations refereeing debut in 2023 at just 31, during England’s second-round clash with Italy. On the appointment, he told the South China Morning Post:

He added:
"Being involved in a tournament like that, with the history, coming from New Zealand, the fans up north make the Six Nations very special. At the end of the day, referees get into refereeing because we're fans of rugby. The reason I do it is to be involved in those occasions."

Doleman was at the center of a major incident in 2023, when New Zealand’s Ardie Savea made a chilling throat-slitting gesture during a Super Rugby match between the Melbourne Rebels and the Hurricanes.

Just before halftime, a massive brawl broke out — Dane Coles and Rebels’ Josh Canham went head-to-head, while players from both teams tried to calm things down. In the chaos, Savea forcefully knocked Rebels fly-half Carter Gordon to the ground, sparking a heated verbal exchange before Gordon walked away.

After consulting with his assistants Paul Williams and Graham Cooper, Doleman judged the initial tussle between Canham and Coles as “push and shove,” but found Savea had escalated the confrontation. Savea, already penalised earlier, received a yellow card.

As Savea left the field, Rebels scrum-half Ryan Louwrens ironically applauded him — provoking Savea’s infamous throat-slitting gesture toward Louwrens. The commentary team was shocked, with Doleman’s microphone capturing someone yelling:
"He's threatening to f*****g kill him, he's threatening to kill him."

Savea apologised after the match, telling Sky Sports:
*"I can understand the fans are furious with the gesture that I made. It's just a heat of the moment kind of thing, you know. It's footy, but I understand kids are watching us.

We're in the heat of the moment and that's out of character for me, so I put my hand up first and apologise for that. I've got to be better, we're trying to clean up the game. I understand... there's no excuse for me, I've got to be better."

Fri 20 June 2025
The Lions vs Argentina referee (Dublin)
Referee: James Doleman (NZ)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Andrea Piardi (Ita)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)

Sat 28 Jun 2025
Western Force v B&I Lions (Perth)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
ARs: Paul Williams (NZ) & James Doleman (NZ)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
FPRO: Glenn Newman (NZ)

Wed 2 July 2025
Queensland Reds v B&I Lions (Brisbane)
Referee: James Doleman (NZ)
ARs: Paul Williams (NZ) & Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZ)
FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)

Sat 5 July 2025
NSW Waratahs v B&I Lions (Sydney)
Referee: Paul Williams (NZ)
ARs: James Doleman (NZ) & Angus Mabey (NZ)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZ)
FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)

Wed 9 July 2025
ACT Brumbies v B&I Lions (Canberra)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
ARs: Paul Williams (NZ) & Nika Amashukeli (GEO)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)

Sat 12 July 2025
Invitational AUS&NZL v B&I Lions (Adelaide)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Pierre Brousset (Fra)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
FPRO: Marius Jonker (SA)

Australia v The B&I Lions (Brisbane)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Andrea Piardi (Ita)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZ)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)

Tues 22 July 2025
First Nations & Pasifika XV v B&I Lions (Melbourne)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ) & Andrea Piardi (Ita)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZ)

Australia v The B&I Lions (Melbourne)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
FPRO: Marius Jonker (SA)

Australia v The B&I Lions (Sydney)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
ARs: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ) & Andrea Piardi (Ita)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZ)

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