Quarter-finals match officials appointments
Nigel Owens will get next month’s much-anticipated Heineken Cup quarter-finals underway when he takes charge of the Saturday, 5 April clash between Munster Rugby and Toulouse which marks the first visit of the four-time champions to the famed Thomond Park cauldron.
The referees for the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup were announced today (24 March 2014) following a meeting of the ERC Match Officials sub-committee. The meeting reviewed match official performances across all relevant tournaments in conjunction with feedback from the referee managers in each Union and from club coaching staff.
Alain Rolland has been appointed to referee the Anglo-French confrontation at Stade Marcel-Michelin between last season’s beaten finalists, ASM Clermont Auvergne, and Leicester Tigers, while Jerome Garces will be in the middle for Ulster Rugby’s showdown with Saracens at Ravenhill Stadium.
The last of the quarter-finals on Sunday, 6 April between the reigning Heineken Cup champions, Toulon, and last season’s Amlin Challenge Cup winners, Leinster Rugby, at Stade Felix Mayol will be refereed by Wayne Barnes.
One of the most entertaining weekends in club rugby will kick off on Thursday, 3 April with the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final between Sale Sharks and Northampton Saints which will be refereed by Romain Poite.
Television Match Officials will be in operation at all the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup matches during the knockout stages.
HEINEKEN CUP QUARTER-FINALS
(Kick-offs local time)
Saturday, 5 April
Munster Rugby v Toulouse, Thomond Park (13.30)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wal); Assistant referee 1: JP Doyle (Eng); Assistant referee 2: Neil Hennessy (Wal); TMO: Derek Bevan (Wal)
ASM Clermont Auvergne v Leicester Tigers, Stade Marcel-Michelin (17.00)
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ire); Assistant referee 1: George Clancy (Ire); Assistant referee 2: David Wilkinson (Ire); TMO: Simon McDowell (Ire)
Ulster Rugby v Saracens, Ravenhill Stadium (18.30)
Referee: Jerome Garces (Fra); Assistant referee 1: Mathieu Raynal (Fra); Assistant referee 2: Cedric Marchat (Fra); TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
Sunday, 6 April
Toulon v Leinster Rugby, Stade Felix Mayol (17.30)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (Eng); Assistant referee 1: Greg Garner (Eng); Assistant referee 2: Luke Pearce (Eng); TMO: Graham Hughes (Eng)
AMLIN CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER-FINALS
(Kick-offs local time)
Thursday, 3 April
Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints, AJ Bell Stadium (20.00)
Referee: Romain Poite (Fra); Assistant referee 1: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ire); Assistant referee 2: Neil Paterson (Sco); TMO: Ian Ramage (Sco)
Friday, 4 April
Stade Francais Paris v Harlequins, Stade Jean Bouin (21.00)
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wal); Assistant referee 1 : Ian Davies (Wal); Assistant referee 2 : Andrew McMenemy (Sco); TMO: Gareth Simmonds (Wal)
Sunday, 6 April
Bath Rugby v Brive, Recreation Ground (14.00)
Referee: John Lacey (Ire); Assistant referee 1: Dudley Phillips (Ire); Assistant referee 2: Sean Gallagher (Ire); TMO: Jim Yuille (Sco)
London Wasps v Gloucester Rugby, Adams Park (19.00)
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (Fra); Assistant referee 1: Marius Mitrea (Ita); Assistant referee 2: Laurent Cardona (Fra); TMO: Alan Falzone (Ita)
