Christmas is close now but this week we have another burst of European rugby and, in Port Elizabeth, the third in the IRB's Sevens series. Then in Dubai there is a brand new competition - the Emirate Airlines Cup of Nations, the brainchild of Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates.

International

Emirates Airlines Cup of Nations

Brazil vs Kenya
Referee: tba

Hong Kong vs United Arab Emirates
Referee: tba

Hong Kong vs Kenya
Referee: tba

United Arab Emirates vs Brazil
Referee: tba

IRB Sevens

Referees: Federico Anselmi (Argentina), James Bolabiu (Fiji), Tui Komiti (Samoa), James McPhail (New Zealand), Anthony Moyes (Australia), Matt O'Brien (Australia), Rasta Rashivenga (South Africa), Charles Samson (Scotland)

Heineken Cup, Round 3

Ulster vs Aironi
Referee: Andrew Small (England)
Assessor: John Sheehan (Ireland)
 
Cardiff Blues vs Edinburgh
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
 
Harlequins vs Toulouse
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Leo Colgan (Ireland), Ken Beggs (Ireland)
Television match official: Peter Ferguson (Ireland)
 
Connacht vs Gloucester
Referee: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: David Changleng (Scotland), Bob Nevins (Scotland)
Television match official: Iain Ramage (Scotland)
 
Benetton Treviso vs Biarritz
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assessor: Tim Aplin (Ireland)
 
Castres vs Northampton Saints
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Michael Black (Ireland), Trevor Collins (Ireland)
Television match official: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)
 
Scarlets vs Munster
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
 
Racing-Métro vs London Irish
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assessor: Bertie Smith (Ireland)
 
Saracens vs Ospreys
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
 
Bath vs Leinster
Referee: Jérôme Garces (France)
 
Glasgow Warriors vs Montpellier
Referee: Greg Garner (England)
 
Clermont Auvergne vs Leicester Tigers
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: John Carvill (Ireland), Ollie Hodges (Ireland)
Television match official: Tony Redmond (Ireland)
 
Amlin Cup, Round 3

Newcastle Falcons vs Toulon
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Peter Haycock (Ireland), David Keane (Ireland)
Television match official: Jude Quinn (Ireland)
 
Agen vs Sale Sharks
Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland), Adrian Graves (Scotland)
Television match official: Iain Heard (Scotland)
 
Perpignan vs Prato
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
 
Rovigo vs Bordeaux-Bègles
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
 
Crociati vs Stade Français
Referee: Neil Hennessy (Wales)
 
La Vila vs Brive
Referee: David Wilkinson (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Simon Mcdowell (Ireland), Sean Gallagher (Ireland)
 
Lyon vs Petrarca
Referee: Andrew Macpherson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Rob Dickson, Archie McInally
 
Bayonne vs London  Wasps
Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Brian Macneice (Ireland), Darragh McCormack (Ireland)
Television match official: Dermot Moloney (Ireland)
 
Bucharest vs Worcester Warriors
Referee: Alan Falzone (Italy)
 
Exeter vs Dragons
Referee: Carlo Damasco (Italy)

British & Irish Cup

Ulster Ravens vs Pontypridd at Deramore
Referee: James Matthew (Scotland)
Assistant referees: John Peake (Ireland), Stuart Douglas (Ireland)
Assessor: Jack Young (Ireland)

Melrose vs Aberavon at Greenyards
Referee: Eanna O'Dowd (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Johann van der Merwe (Scotland), Archie McInally (Scotland)
Assessor: Gordon McMurray (Scotland)       

Munster A vs Ayr
Referee: Rhys Thomas (Wales)
Assistant referees: Frank Butler (Ireland), K Barry (Ireland)
Assessor: T O'Brien (Ireland)

Nottingham vs London Welsh
Referee: Ross Campbell (England)
 
Swansea vs Currie at St Helen's
Referee: Simon Harding (England)

Cross Keys vs Neath at Pandy Park
Referee: tba

Bedford Blues vs  Rotherham Titans
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
 
Esher vs  Moseley
Referee: Stephen Lee (England)

London Scottish vs  Doncaster Knights
Referee: Paul Knowles (England)
 
Plymouth Albion vs  Bristol Rugby
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint-Roberts (England)

Llanelli vs Leinster A at Parc y Scarlets
Referee: Cammy Rudkin (Scotland)
 
Leeds Carnegie vs  Cornish Pirates
Referee: Dean Richards (England)

Domestic

England

Varsity Cup

Oxford vs Cambridge at Twickenham
Referee: Dave Pearson
 
France

Pro D2

Auch vs Tarbes at Stade Jacques Fouroux
Béziers vs Grenoble at Stade de la Méditérranée
Bourgoin vs Narbonne at Stade Pierre-Rajon
Carcassonne vs Albi at Stade Albert Domec
Dax vs Aurillac at Stade Maurice Boyau
Aix vs Oyonnax at Stade Maurice David
Mont-de-Marsan vs Périgueux at Stade Guy Boniface
Pau vs La Rochelle at Stade du Hameau