Peyper to make history with Champions Cup gig

NEWS: South Africa’s Jaco Peyper and Wayne Barnes of England will referee this season’s Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup finals respectively.

The match officials for the showpiece games have been appointed by a selection committee chaired by EPCR’s Head of Match Officials, Tony Spreadbury.

Peyper will make history by becoming the first South African official to referee an EPCR Final when he takes charge of the Champions Cup decider between Leinster and holders, Stade Rochelais in Dublin on Saturday, May 20.

His assistants will be the English duo, Karl Dickson and Christophe Ridley, with Tom Foley, also of England, as TMO and Beth Dickens (Scotland) as the match Citing Commissioner.

The vastly-experienced Barnes will be refereeing his sixth EPCR final following his appointment for the EPCR Challenge Cup clash of Glasgow Warriors v Toulon at Lansdowne Road on Friday, May 19.

He has previously taken charge of the 2012 and 2019 Challenge Cup deciding matches as well as three Heineken Champions Cup finals in 2010, 2018 and last season.

Barnes will have Ireland’s Chris Busby and Craig Evans of Wales running the line with Ben Whitehouse (Wales) as TMO and Ciaran Scally (Ireland) as Citing Commissioner.

EPCR CHALLENGE CUP FINAL

(Kick-off local time)

Glasgow Warriors v RC Toulon

Date: Friday, May 19

Venue: Lansdowne Road, Dublin

Kick-off: 20.00 (19.00 GMT)

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Assistant referees: Chris Busby (Ireland), Craig Evans (Wales)

TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

Citing Commissioner: Ciaran Scally (Ireland)

CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL

(Kick-off local time)

Leinster v Stade Rochelais

Date: Saturday, May 20

Venue: Lansdowne Road, Dublin

Kick-off: 16.45 (15.45 GMT)

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Christophe Ridley (England)

TMO: Tom Foley (England)

Citing Commissioner: Beth Dickens (Sco)