Owens And Clancy To Referee European Finals

Leading Welsh referee Nigel Owens and Ireland’s George Clancy, who refereed his first RBS 6 Nations match earlier this year, have been chosen to take charge of the Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup finals later this month.

Nigel Owens, who refereed the historic Croke Park meeting of Munster and Leinster, has been chosen to be the man in the middle for the Heineken Cup final between Leicester Tigers and Leinster at Murrayfield on Saturday, May 23 (kick-off 5pm).

Tournament organisers ERC have confirmed the match officials for both the Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup finals with Owens joining Chris White in taking charge of successive Heineken Cup finals and also becoming only the third official to have been appointed to more than one final.

Irish referee George Clancy will get the big European weekend underway when he referees the European Challenge Cup final between Northampton Saints and Bourgoin at the Twickenham Stoop on Friday, May 22 (kick-off 7.45 pm).

The Bruff clubman, who won the Munster Referee of the Year award in 2007, refereed the Churchill Cup final two years ago at Twickenham and joined Irish colleagues Alain Rolland and Alan Lewis on the IRB’s International Referee Panel last season.

In a notable double for Limerick, Clancy’s good friend Peter Fitzgibbon, who was recently added to the International Referee Panel, will be the fourth official on duty for the Northampton Saints v Bourgoin tie.

The Thomond clubman refereed Bourgoin’s semi-final win over Worcester Warriors earlier this month.

For the Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup knock-out games, should the match referee withdraw during the game due to injury he will be replaced by the fourth official.

2008/09 HEINEKEN CUP FINAL:

SATURDAY, MAY 23 – 
5pm – LEICESTER TIGERS v LEINSTER – Murrayfield Stadium – Nigel Owens (Wales) 
Fourth Official – Christophe Berdos (France)

2008/09 EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP FINAL:

FRIDAY, MAY 22 –
7.45pm – NORTHAMPTON v BOURGOIN – Twickenham Stoop – George Clancy (Ireland) 
Fourth Official – Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)

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