Owens Selected As PRO12 Final Referee
PRO12 Rugby have confirmed that Nigel Owens of Wales has been appointed to referee this Saturday’s GUINNESS PRO12 final between Munster and the Scarlets at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off 6.15pm).
Nigel Owens is the most experienced referee in the GUINNESS PRO12 and this appoinment will mark the fifth occasion that he has taken change of the Championship final.
It has been a landmark year for the 45-year-old official who made his 150th appearance in the PRO12 at Judgement Day, while two weeks ago he refereed his sixth European Cup decider at Edinburgh’s BT Murrayfield.
The rest of the matchday officials can also be confirmed. Assistant referee 1 will be David Wilkinson (IRFU) while running the opposite touchline will be Ian Davies (WRU). Neil Paterson (SRU) will serve as television match official.
Welshman Owens made his first appearance in the Celtic League when he took charge of Border Reivers v Connacht on August 30, 2002. Since then he has gone on to take charge of four finals in the Championship and six European Cup finals.
Following on from Alain Rolland, Owens became the second referee from the the PRO12 to referee a World Cup final in 2015 when he oversaw New Zealand versus Australia at Twickenham.
Interested in becoming a rugby referee? Click here for information on the IRFU referee pathway.
The GUINNESS PRO12 final takes place this Saturday at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off 6.15pm). Fans can guarantee their seats by booking their tickets via www.ticketmaster.ie.