European And Bateman Cup Action Awaits IRFU Referees
IRFU referees will be in action in European rugby’s top two competitions and on the domestic front this weekend. Saturday sees the Bateman Cup kick off for 2019 with the semi-finals in Limerick and Armagh.
Jonathan Peak will have the whistle at Dooradoyle on Saturday afternoon for the all-Division 1A meeting of Garryowen and Lansdowne, the defending champions, at the semi-final stage of this season’s Bateman Cup competition.
The other last-four clash brings together two Division 1B clubs, City of Armagh and newly-crowned Connacht Senior Cup champions Buccaneers, who will face off at the Palace Grounds. Robert O’Sullivan will referee the game.
A rescheduled match in Division 2B of the All-Ireland League is also down for decision, with Glenn Sheridan appointed to take charge of unbeaten MU Barnhall’s encounter with Wanderers at Parsonstown. Stuart Gaffikin will referee Friday’s ‘A’ interprovincial between Munster and Leinster at Thomond Park.
Meanwhile, on the European front, John Lacey will referees the Clermont Auvergne v Northampton Saints tie in the Challenge Cup tournament, with Frank Murphy and Jonny Erskine as assistant referees and Brian MacNeice as TMO.
Sunday sees George Clancy at Sandy Park, alongside his assistant referees Sean Gallagher and Mark Patton, as Exeter Chiefs, the current English Premiership leaders, entertain Castres Olympique in the Heineken Champions Cup. Olly Hodges will be on TMO duty.
Andrew Brace is also in on the whistle in Europe’s top tier competition and officiates Lyon versus Saracens in round 5, with Joy Neville and Nigel Correll appointed as assistant referees and Simon McDowell the TMO.
IRFU REFEREE APPOINTMENTS – JANUARY 11-13:
Friday, January 11
‘A’ Interprovincial Match
Munster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ – Stuart Gaffikin (Referee)
Saturday, January 12
Bateman Cup Semi-Finals
Garryowen v Lansdowne – Jonathan Peak (Referee)
City of Armagh v Buccaneers – Robert O’Sullivan (Referee)
All-Ireland League Division 2B
MU Barnahll v Wanderers – Glenn Sheridan (Referee)
European Challenge Cup
Clermont Auvergne v Northampton Saints – John Lacey (Referee), Frank Murphy (AR1), Jonny Erskine (AR2), Brian MacNeice (TMO)
Sunday, January 13
Heineken Champions Cup
Exeter Chiefs v Castres Olympique – George Clancy (Referee), Sean Gallagher (AR1), Mark Patton (AR2), Olly Hodges (TMO)
Lyon v Saracens – Andrew Brace (Referee), Joy Neville (AR1), Nigel Correll (AR2), Simon McDowell (TMO)
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