Referees for Europe's first Rounds
The European Cup has announced the referees appointed to the first two Rounds of the Heineken Cup and the European Challenge Cup.
Peter Fitzgibbon of Ireland, recently appointed to his first IRB Test, will get Europe going when he referees the match at Stade Felix Mayol on Thursday 9 October between Toulon and Northampton Saints, both clubs promoted this season to their country's top competitions - Toulon in the Top 14 and Northampton Saints in the Guinness Premiership.
Wayne Barnes of England and James Jones of Wales will blow the whistle to start the Heineken Cup - Barnes at renovated Thomond Park when champions Munster play Montauban of France and Jones at Stade Aimée-Giral when Perpignan play Benetton Treviso.
Alan Lewis, who has refereed more Heineken Cup matches than anybody else - 52 so far - will referee the match between Clermont Auvergne and Sale Sharks.
The appointments for Rounds 1 & 2
Heineken Cup 2008-09
Round 1
Friday 10 October, 2008
Pool 1
Munster vs Montauban
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Pool 3
Perpignan vs Benetton Treviso
Referee: James Jones (Wales)
Saturday 11 October, 2008
Pool 1
Clermont Auvergne vs Sale Sharks
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Pool 2
Edinburgh vs Leinster
Referee: David Pearson (England)
Pool 4
Scarlets vs Harlequins
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)
Pool 4
Ulster vs Stade Français
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Pool 5
Newport Gwent Dragons vs Glasgow Warriors
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Pool 6
Gloucester vs Biarritz Olympique
Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland)
Pool 6
Rugby Calvisano vs Cardiff Blues
Referee: Rob Debney (England)
Sunday 12 October, 2008
Pool 2
London Wasps vs Castres Olympique
Referee: Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Pool 3
Leicester Tigers vs Ospreys
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Pool 5
Toulouse vs Bath
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Round 2
Friday 17 October, 2008
Pool 5
Glasgow Warriors vs Toulouse
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Saturday 18 October, 2008
Pool 2
Castres Olympique vs Edinburgh
Referee: Andrew Small (England)
Pool 2
Leinster vs London Wasps
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Pool 3
Benetton Treviso vs Leicester Tigers
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Pool 3
Ospreys vs Perpignan
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Pool 4
Stade Français Paris vs Scarlets
Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland)
Pool 4
Harlequins vs Ulster
Referee: Tim Hayes (Wales)
Pool 6
Biarritz Olympique vs Calvisano
Referee: Andy McPherson (Scotland)
Sunday 19 October, 2008
Pool 1
Montauban vs Clermont Auvergne
Referee: Chris White (England)
Pool 1
Sale Sharks vs Munster
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)
Pool 5
Bath vs Newport Gwent Dragons
Referee: Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Pool 6
Cardiff Blues vs Gloucester
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
European Challenge Cup 2008-09
Round 1
Thursday 9 October, 2008
Pool 2
Toulon vs Northampton Saints
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Friday 10 October, 2008
Pool 1
Dax vs Connacht
Referee: Andrew Small (England)
Pool 2
Montpellier vs Bristol
Referee: Andy McPherson (Scotland)
Pool 5
Bayonne vs Viadana
Referee: Colin Stanley (Ireland)
Saturday 11 October, 2008
Pool 1
London Irish vs Rovigo
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Pool 3
Petrarca vs Worcester Warriors
Referee: David Rosich (France)
Pool 4
Newcastle Falcons vs El Salvador
Referee: Patrick Pechambert (France)
Sunday 12 October, 2008
Pool 3
Bucuresti Oaks vs Bourgoin
Referee: Alan Falzone (Italy)
Pool 4
Overmach Parma vs Brive
Referee: Neil Patterson (Scotland)
Pool 5
Saracens vs Mont-de-Marsan
Referee: Tim Hayes (Wales)
Round 2
Thursday 16 October, 2008
Pool 4
Brive vs Newcastle Falcons
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Friday 17 October, 2008
Pool 1
Connacht vs London Irish
Referee: Jérôme Garces (France)
Pool 2
Bristol vs Toulon
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Pool 3
Bourgoin vs Petrarca
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Pool 5
Mont-de-Marsan vs Bayonne
Referee: Rob Debney (England)
Saturday 18 October, 2008
Pool 1
Rugby Rovigo vs Dax
Referee: Gwyn Morris (Wales)
Pool 2
Northampton Saints vs Montpellier
Referee: James Jones (Wales)
Pool 5
Viadana vs Saracens
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Sunday 19 October, 2008
Pool 3
Bucuresti Oaks vs Worcester Warriors
Referee: Stefan Pomarède (France)
Pool 4
El Salvador vs Overmach Parma
Referee: Graham Knox (Scotland)