Jump to main content

Menu

Heineken Cup Referees

Heineken Cup Referees

Dave McHugh, the only referee to take charge of two Heineken Cup finals, will start his duties in the eighth season of Europe’s premier club tournament by taking charge of Leicester’s opening match

Dave McHugh, the only referee to take charge of two Heineken Cup finals, will start his duties in the eighth season of Europe’s premier club tournament by taking charge of Leicester Tigers’ opening match in defence of their title.
The appointment of officials, by the ERC Match Officials Sub-Committee, have been made for the first two rounds only and other Irish referees favoured include Alain Rolland (pictured), Donal Courtney and Simon McDowell.
After the first two weekends the sub-committee will meet again to review performances and consider appointments for the subsequent Pool matches.
Meanwhile, McHugh is set to return to refereeing later this month after suffering a dislocated shoulder in the Tri-Nations clash between South Africa and New Zealand in Durban.
And when the Heineken Cup resumes on the second weekend of October, he will control the Tigers’ trip to Neath on Friday night, 11th October, as Martin Johnson and his double champions bid to win their first Heineken Cup match on Welsh soil in three attempts.

“This will be my eighth season refereeing in the Heineken Cup,” said 44-year-old McHugh.
“And having seen the tournament grow from day one, the growth has been phenomenal and I am as enthusiastic now as I was then about any Heineken Cup appointment.”
“I have never refereed Neath, either home or away, and I am very much looking forward going to The Gnoll. Like any match in the tournament, it will be a huge challenge.”

Google Ad Manager – 300×250 – In Article

McHugh will become Ireland’s most celebrated referee when he makes his 24th Test appearance in the Autumn international match between France and Canada, eclipsing previous Irish record holder Kevin Kelleher’s 23-international mark.

Meanwhile top French referee Joel Dume will have charge of Gloucester’s clash with Munster in front of the BBC Grandstand cameras at Kingsholm with Nigel Whitehouse of Wales controlling London Irish’s visit to Toulouse, which will be being televised by France Television.

Heineken Cup.
ROUND 1, 11th/12th/13th October.
Amatori & Calvisano v Beziers, Steve Lander (E).
Neath v Leicester Tigers, David McHugh (I).
Gloucester v Munster, Joel Dume (F).
Perpignan v Viadana, Andrew Ireland (S).
Llanelli v Glasgow Rugby, Giulio De Santis (It).
Sale Sharks v Bourgoin, Nigel Williams (W).
Montferrand v Swansea, Donal Courtney (I).
Leinster Lions v Bristol Shoguns, Rob Dickson (S).
Toulouse v London Irish, Nigel Whitehouse (W).
Edinburgh Rugby v Newport, Didier Mene (F).
Cardiff v Biarritz Olympique, Chris White (E).
Northampton Saints v Ulster, Antonio Lombardi (It).

ROUND 2, 18th/19th/20th October
Leicester Tigers v Amatori & Calvisano, Nigel Owens (W).
Beziers v Bath, Marco Salera (It).
Viadana v Gloucester, Simon McDowell (I).
Munsterv Perpignan, Tony Spreadbury (E).
Glasgow Rugby v Sale Sharks, Didier Mene (F).
Bourgoin v Llanelli, Iain Ramage (S).
Bristol Shoguns v Montferrand, Nigel Whitehouse (W).
Swansea v Leinster Lions, Joel Jutge (F).
London Irish v Edinburgh Rugby, Antonio Lombardi (It).
Newport v Toulouse, Steve Lander (E).
Ulster v Cardiff, Rob Dickson (S).
Biarritz Olympique v Northampton Saints, Alain Rolland (I).