Lions and Sharks' Euro Cup play-offs referees revealed
NEWS: With under three weeks to go until the highly anticipated return of European club action, the match official appointments for the Round of 16 in both the Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup have been confirmed.
The 64-strong panel of referees, assistant referees and TMOs, representing eight unions, have been appointed by a committee led by EPCR’s head of match officials, Tony Spreadbury. These officials will oversee 16 crucial knockout stage encounters.
As the road to the 2025 EPCR Finals Weekend at Principality Stadium (May 23-24) begins to unfold, the knockout stages of both tournaments will get underway on April 4, 5, and 6, marking the next stage in the battle for club rugby’s ultimate prize.
Sharks' Challenge Cup match against Lyon will be officiated by Federico Vedovelli of Italy.
The Sharks are the defending Challenge Cup champs and qualified from the Champions Cup.
Lions head to Scotland to take on Edinburgh and they will have France's Ludovic Cayrea s the referee.
Also in France, South Africa’s Morné Ferreira to referee at Stade Yves-du-Manoir as Montpellier - two-time winners, who qualified second - host last year's finalists Gloucester.
Scotland’s Hollie Davidson will oversee the match between Section Paloise and Bath at Stade du Hameau – the first meeting between the sides in the competition since the 2016/17 season.
Luc Ramos (France) will referee Connacht, the highest-ranked club after a perfect pool stage, as they host Cardiff at Dexcom Stadium, with Cardiff hoping to reach a home city Final.
At the same time, Gianluca Gnechhi (Italy) will officiate what is set to be a thrilling battle between USAP and Racing 92 at Stade Aimé Giral, as the two TOP 14 rivals clash for a coveted place in the next round.
Matthew Carley (England), fresh from his Six Nations duties, will referee the Ospreys v Scarlets Welsh derby at Swansea.com Stadium.
In the Champions Cup, the action begins with Andrew Brace (Ireland) refereeing the first match of the weekend, as Northampton Saints, who finished top of Pool 3 and qualified for the knockout stage in third place, host ASM Clermont Auvergne at cinch at the Franklin's Gardens.
Saturday’s showdowns kick off with Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) in charge the clash of two three-time champions, RC Toulon and Saracens, at Stade Félix Mayol.
England’s Karl Dickson will referee Benetton Rugby’s first Champions Cup knockout stage match, as the Italians take on Castres Olympique at Stade Pierre-Fabre.
England's Luke Pearce, fresh off his Six Nations duties, will take charge of Union Bordeaux-Bègles – the highest-ranked club after an undefeated pool stage – as they host Ulster in an exciting clash to kick off Sunday’s Champions Cup action at Stade Chaban-Delmas.
Challenge Cup
Friday, April 4
Edinburgh v Lions
(Edinburgh Stadium, Scotland - Kick-off: 20.00; 20.00 GMT; 22.00 SA time)
Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France)
Assistant referees: Evan Urruzmendi (France) & Vincent Blasco Baque (France)
TMO: Denis Grenouillet (France)
Section Paloise v Bath
(Stade du Hameau, France - Kick-off: 21.00; 20.00 GMT; 20.00 UK Time)
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referee: Rob McDowell (Scotland) & Finlay Brown (Scotland)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Saturday, April 5
Aviron Bayonnais v Bulls
(Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne - Kick-off: 13.30; 12.30 GMT; 14.30 SA Time)
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant referees: Sara Cox (England) & Jack Makepeace (England)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (England)
Montpellier v Gloucester
( Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Montpellier - Kick-off: 16.30; 17.30 GMT; 17.30 UK time)
Referee: Morne Ferreira (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (South Africa) & Christopher Allison (South Africa)
TMO: Mark Patton (Ireland)
USAP v Racing 92
(Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan - Kick-off: 21.00; 20.00 GMT)
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant referee: Franco Rosella (Italy) & Lorenzo Pedezzi (Italy(
TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)
Connacht v Cardiff
(Dexcom Stadium, Connacht - Kick-off: 20.00; 20.00 GMT)
Referee: Luc Ramos (France).
Assistant referee: Jeremy Rozier (France) & Flavien Hourquet (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
Sunday, April 6
Lyon v Sharks
(Matmut Stadium de Gerland, Lyon - Kick-off: 18.30; 17.30 GMT, 19.30 SA Time)
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
Assistant referees: Clara Munarini (Italy) & Luca Bisetto (Italy)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)
Ospreys v Scarlets
(Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea - Kick-off: 17.30; 17.30 GMT)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe (England) & Jamie Leahy (England)
TMO: David Rose (England)
Champions Cup
Friday, April 4
Northampton Saints v ASM Clermont Auvergne
(Franklin's Garden, Northampton - Kick-off: 20.00; 20.00 GMT; 21.00 France time)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Eoghan Cross (Ireland) & Andrew Cole (Ireland)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Toulon v Saracens
(Stade Felix Mayol - Kick-off: 13.30, 12.30 GMT, 12.30 UK time)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse (Wales) & Chris Busby (Ireland)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Leinster v Harlequins
(Croke Park, Ireland - Kick-off: 15.00; 15.00 GMT)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant referees: Kevin Bralley (France) & Thomas Charabas (France)
TMO: Tual Trainini (France)
Castres Olympique v Benetton
(Stade Pierre-Fabre - Kick-off: 16.00; 16.00 Italy time; 15.00 GMT;)
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Hamish Smales (England) & Jonathan Healy (England)
TMO: Dean Richards (England)
Stade Rochelais v Munster
(Stade Marcel Deflandre, France - Kick-off: 18.30; 17.30 GMT; 17.30 UK Time)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Adam Leal (England) & Filippo Russo (Italy)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Glasgow Warriors Leicester Tigers
(Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow - Kick-off: 20.00; 20.00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Ben Breakspear (Wales) & Gareth Newman (Wales)
TMO: Adam Jones (Wales)
Sunday, April 6
Union Bordeaux-Bègles v Ulster
(Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux - Kick-off: 13.30; 12.30 GMT; 12.30 UK Time)
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees: Morne Ferreira (South Africa) & Joe James (England)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)
Stade Toulousain v Sale Sharks
(Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse - Kick-off: 16.00; 15.00 GMT; 15.00 UK Time)
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Dave Sutherland (Scotland) & Ruairidh Campbell (Scotland)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)