Match officials revealed for Champions Cup semifinals

NEWS: The match official appointments for the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup semifinals have been announced on Tuesday following a meeting of EPCR's selection committee.

The selection committee has appointed England’s Wayne Barnes to referee the all-French Champions Cup semifinal between Toulouse and Bordeaux-Bègles at Stade Ernest Wallon on Saturday, May 1, while Matthew Carley, also of England, will take charge when La Rochelle and Leinster clash at Stade Marcel Deflandre on Sunday, May 2.

The first of the Challenge Cup semifinals on Friday, April 30 which has Leicester Tigers going up against Ulster at Mattioli Woods Welford Road will be refereed by Pascal Gauzère of France, and Ireland’s Andrew Brace will be in the middle for the second semifinal between Bath and the 2016 winners, Montpellier, at the Recreation Ground on Saturday, May 1.

Champions Cup semifinals:

(Kick-offs local time)

Toulouse v Bordeaux-Bègles

Saturday 1 May – Stade Ernest Wallon (16.00)

Referee: Wayne Barnes (Eng); Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley (Eng), Adam Leal (Eng); TMO: Tom Foley (Eng); Citing Commissioner: Ed Kenny (Ire)

La Rochelle v Leinster

Sunday 2 May – Stade Marcel Deflandre (16.00)

Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng); Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (Eng), Jack Makepeace (Eng); TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng); Citing Commissioner: Dave Guyan (Eng)

Challenge Cup semifinals

(Kick-offs local time)

Leicester Tigers v Ulster

Friday 30 April – Mattioli Woods Welford Road (20.00)

Referee: Pascal Gauzère (Fra); Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (Fra), Alex Ruiz (Fra); TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra); Citing Commissioner: Jeff Mark (Wal)

Bath v Montpellier

Saturday 1 May – Recreation Ground (20.00)

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ire); Assistant referees: Frank Murphy (Ire), Chris Busby (Ire); TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ire); Citing Commissioner: Eugene Ryan (Ire)