White for Magners Final

Chris White of Cheltenham, a referee of vast experience, will referee the inaugural Magners League Grand Final between Leinster and Ospreys at the RDS in Dublin on 29th May.

White, who is the most experienced referee in England's Premiership with 179 matches since 1979, became the second referee to reach 50 Tests this year. He has three times refereed the Heineken Cup Final (2003, 2005 and 2006) and twice the Premiership Final (2004 and 2005). He has been one of the world's best referees for several years and will be bowing out of international refereeing this year.

The appointment of an Englishman to the Magners League Final, a Celtic competition, is understanding, given White's status in refereeing.

In the Final he has two Scots as assistants and two Irishmen, both Munstermen, to regulate the coming and going of players during the match. The television match official is a Scot.

The match officials for the Magners League Final between Leinster and the Ospreys are:

Referee: Chris White (England
Assistant Referees: Andy Macpherson (Scotland), David Changleng (Scotland)
4th & 5th officials: Leo Colgan (Ireland), Dermot Moloney (Ireland)
television match official: Jim Yuille (Scotland)