Destination Bordeaux As Joy Neville Set For Another Historic Milestone
Irish match officials will be in action across Europe this week, as teams face into their second weekend of games in the Champions Cup, the Challenge Cup and the British & Irish Cup. The final round of the Women’s Interprovincial Championship also takes place.
Sean Gallagher is in France tonight to officiate the all-French Challenge Cup match between Pau and Agen. He will have his IRFU colleagues Frank Murphy and Chris Harrington on the touchlines, with Kevin Beggs as TMO.
Tomorrow evening sees two more Challenge Cup games with Irish officials, as Joy Neville take charge of Bordeaux-Bègles v Enisei-STM, becoming the first woman to referee a European professional club fixture. She will have Stuart Gaffikin and Shane Kierans as assistant referees. David Wilkinson, meanwhile, is in Myreside in Scotland to referee Edinburgh against Krasny Yar, with Kieran Barry and Oisin Quinn as his assistant referees.
On Saturday, Robert O’Sullivan will referee the Ospreys Premiership Select against Nottingham and Jonny Erskine will referee the Dragons Premiership Select versus Yorkshire Carnegie in the fourth round of the British & Irish Cup.
The final round of the IRFU Women’s Interprovincial Championship will see Brian Deighan referee Munster versus Leinster in a much-anticipated top of the table clash in Limerick, while Chris Lough is in charge of Ulster against Connacht in Belfast.
Sunday afternoon will see George Clancy at the Ricoh Arena to referee Wasps and unbeaten pool leaders La Rochelle in the Champions Cup. He will have Eddie Hogan O’Connell and Jonathan Peak as assistant referees and Leo Colgan as TMO.
Andrew Brace is also in Champions Cup action and he is on the whistle for the rematch between Clermont Auvergne against Saracens, with assistance from Nigel Correll and John Carvill on the touchlines. Simon McDowell will be TMO.
Chris Busby is at the Sportsground as Connacht Eagles welcome Richmond in their reverse fixture in the British & Irish Cup. Karol Collins and Daithi Flood will be his assistant referees.
Interested in becoming a rugby referee? Click here for information on the IRFU referee pathway.
IRFU REFEREE APPOINTMENTS – DECEMBER 14-17:
Thursday, December 14 –
Challenge Cup
Pau v Agen – Sean Gallagher (Referee), Frank Murphy (AR1), Chris Harrington (AR2), Kevin Beggs (TMO)
Friday, December 15 –
Challenge Cup
Bordeaux-Bègles v Enisei-STM – Joy Neville (Referee), Stuart Gaffikin (AR1), Shane Kierans (AR2)
Edinburgh v Krasny Yar – David Wilkinson (Referee), Kieran Barry (AR1), Oisin Quinn (AR2)
British & Irish Cup
Leinster ‘A’ v Bristol – Cillian Hogan (AR1), Helen O’Reilly (AR2)
Saturday, December 16 –
British & Irish Cup
Ospreys Premiership Select v Nottingham – Robert O’Sullivan (Referee)
Dragons Premiership Select v Yorkshire Carnegie – Jonny Erskine (Referee)
Ulster ‘A’ v Hartpury – Mark Patton (Referee), Dan Carson (AR1), Rob Watson (AR2)
Ulster Bank League Division 2B
Sunday’s Well v Rainey Old Boys – Ken Imbusch (Referee)
IRFU Women’s Interprovincial Championship
Munster Women v Leinster Women – Brian Deighan (Referee)
Ulster Women v Connacht Women – Chris Lough (Referee)
Sunday, December 17 –
Champions Cup
Clermont Auvergne v Saracens – Andrew Brace (Referee), Nigel Correll (AR1), John Carvill (AR2), Simon McDowell (TMO)
Wasps v La Rochelle – George Clancy (Referee), Eddie Hogan O’Connell (AR1), Jonathan Peak (AR2), Leo Colgan (TMO)
British & Irish Cup
Connacht Eagles v Richmond – Chris Busby (Referee), Karol Collins (AR1), Daithi Flood (AR2)