Referees Confirmed For Champions Cup And Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals
The referee appointments for the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup quarter-final matches – featuring 10 teams who have previously won European silverware – have been announced following a selection committee meeting chaired by EPCR’s Head of Match Officials, Joel Jutge.
The Champions Cup knockout stages will kick off at Parc y Scarlets on Friday, March 30 with the clash of the Scarlets and debutants La Rochelle, which will be refereed by Luke Pearce of England.
Click here for the referee appointments for the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup quarter-finals
The following day, Nigel Owens of Wales will be in charge of the last-eight meeting of two former tournament winners when Munster take on Toulon at Thomond Park.
On Sunday, April 1, England’s Wayne Barnes will be in the middle at Stade Marcel-Michelin for the quarter-final between last season’s beaten Champions Cup finalists, Clermont Auvergne, and Racing 92, while Jerome Garces of France has been appointed for the showdown between number one seeds Leinster and title holders Saracens at the Aviva Stadium.
The Challenge Cup quarter-finals weekend gets underway on Friday, March 30 with Newcastle Falcons v Brive at Kingston Park where Ireland’s John Lacey will be in charge, and on the same evening, top-ranked Pau and reigning champions Stade Francais meet at Stade du Hameau under the watchful eye of JP Doyle of the RFU.
The matches scheduled for Saturday, March 31 between Connacht and Gloucester at the Sportsground, and between Edinburgh and Cardiff Blues at BT Murrayfield, will be refereed by France’s Romain Poite and Mathieu Raynal respectively.
CHAMPIONS CUP QUARTER-FINALS:
Friday, March 30 –
Scarlets v La Rochelle, Parc Y Scarlets, 5.30pm; Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Saturday, March 31 –
MUNSTER v Toulon, Thomond Park, 3.15pm; Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Sunday, April 1 –
Clermont Auvergne v Racing 92, Stade Marcel Michelin, 2pm local time; Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
LEINSTER v Saracens, Aviva Stadium, 3.30pm; Referee: Jerome Garces (France)
CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER-FINALS:
Friday, March 30 –
Newcastle Falcons v Brive, Kingston Park, 8pm; Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Pau v Stade Francais, Stade du Hameau, 9pm local time; Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Saturday, March 31 –
CONNACHT v Gloucester, the Sportsground, 1pm; Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Edinburgh v Cardiff Blues, BT Murrayfield, 5.45pm; Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Interested in becoming a rugby referee? Click here for information on the IRFU referee pathway.