Following a meeting of the ERC Match Officials Committee, the referees for Rounds 3 and 4 of the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup were announced today (Monday, 26 November 2012).
CLICK HERE for Heineken Cup Referee List
CLICK HERE for Amlin Challenge Referee List
The meeting reviewed match official performances in Rounds 1 and 2 of the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup as well the performances of European match officials in IRB international matches and domestic leagues.
ERC Match Official Performance Manager, Donal Courtney, said the importance of the refereeing of key areas such as sealing off at the tackle, offsides at rucks and kicks, and obstruction at lineout mauls, had been reiterated to the participating clubs and to the referees.
Courtney also emphasised that ERC continues to provide an opportunity for club coaching staff to share their feedback on the performances of match officials and that this feedback was an important part of the review process.
Nigel Owens of Wales will be in charge when reigning champions, Leinster Rugby, travel to ASM Clermont Auvergne at Stade Marcel Michelin on Sunday, 9 December for the first of two intriguing back-to-back games. With Leinster unbeaten and with Clermont having secured a maximum 10 points, the fixtures between two of European club rugby’s heavyweights will go a long way to deciding the outcome of Pool 5.
The much-anticipated Round 3 clash of Pool 1 leaders, Saracens, and Munster Rugby at Thomond Park on Saturday, 8 December will be refereed by France’s Romain Poite while Alain Rolland of Ireland takes charge of Pool 2 front-runners, Toulouse, who host the Ospreys at Stade Ernest Wallon on the same day.
Jerome Garces of France will referee the meeting of Pool 4 leaders, Ulster Rugby, and Northampton Saints in front of an expected full house at Franklin’s Gardens on Friday, 7 December with Wales’ Leighton Hodges in charge at Salford City Stadium for the Sale Sharks-Toulon game in Pool 6.
Neil Hennessy of Wales will get Round 3 of the European club rugby season underway when he referees the vital Amlin Challenge Cup Pool 2 clash between Worcester Warriors and Perpignan, who both have maximum points to date, at Sixways on Thursday, 6 December.
Referee appointments for Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup Rounds 3 and 4 attached
