Berdos for the Final

Parisian Christophe Berdos has been appointed to referee the final of France's Top 14 between Perpignan and Clermont Auvergne at Stade de France on Saturday evening. It is his first Final.

Berdos is one of two full-time professional referees in France, along with Romain Poite. Since the premature retirement - through injury - of Joël Jutge he has been regarded as No.1 in France. He had been expected to referee last year's final but instead refereed a Test between England and Argentina prior to heading for South Africa and the tour by the British & Irish Lions.

Berdos was born on 17 April 1970 and was appointed to his first Test in 2003 when the USA played Russia. At the 2007 World Cup in France he was one of the touch judges. In 2008 he refereed his first Six Nations match.

Recently he was the centre of controversy when the assistant referee in the match of qualification for the Top 14 between Racing-Mètro and Clermont Auvergne, incurring the outspoken wrath of Pierre Berbizier, the Racing coach.

Match officials for the Top 14 Final on 29 May 2010

Referee: Christophe Berdos
Assistant referees: Jean-Luc Rebollal, Eric Gauzins
4 & 5: Patrick Pechambert, Patrick Bellet
Assessor: Claude Rouve, Christian Zidel, Patrick Thomas
Television match official: Daniel Gillet