Clancy And Poite To Referee European Finals
IRFU international referee George Clancy will have the honour of refereeing the Amlin Challenge Cup final at Cardiff City Stadium next week.
ERC, the tournament organisers, today announced the referees for the prestigious and high profile Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup finals.
Ireland’s George Clancy has been appointed to control the Amlin Challenge Cup final between Harlequins and Stade Francais at Cardiff City Stadium on Friday, May 20 (kick-off 7.45pm).
The 34-year-old from Bruff in County Limerick was also in knockout stages action nine days ago, taking charge of the semi-final between Northampton Saints and Perpignan at stadium:mk.
Clancy was named as the Munster Rugby Referee of the Year over the weekend and will take charge of the opening Rugby World Cup match between hosts New Zealand and Tonga in September.
It is the third successive year that an Irishman will referee the Amlin Challenge Cup final.
Clancy refereed the 2009 decider between Northampton Saints and Bourgoin, while Alan Lewis, who recently announced his retirement, was the man in the middle for the Cardiff Blues v Toulon clash last May.
Meanwhile, Romain Poite will referee his first Heineken Cup final when Leinster and Northampton Saints meet at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, May 21 (kick-off 5pm).
The 35-year-old French official was on duty during both knockout stage weekends last month, controlling the Heineken Cup quarter-final between Northampton Saints and Ulster and the Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final between Munster and Harlequins.
Both Clancy and Poite are among the elite 10 officials named as referees for the Rugby World Cup later this year.
HEINEKEN CUP FINAL:
Saturday, May 21 –
LEINSTER v Northampton Saints, Millennium Stadium, 5pm; Romain Poite (France)
AMLIN CHALLENGE CUP FINAL:
Friday, May 20 –
Harlequins v Stade Francais, Cardiff City Stadium, 7.45pm; George Clancy (Ireland)
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