Experienced French referee Mathieu Raynal will be the man in the middle when the Sharks travel to London for the EPCR Challenge Cup final against Gloucester on 24 May.
The EPCR on Wednesday announced the officiating teams for next weekend’s Champions and Challenge Cup finals, both taking place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Raynal, who has been appointed for the Challenge Cup decider between Gloucester and the Sharks, will be in charge of an EPCR final for the first time.
The 42-year-old is set to bring the curtain down on his refereeing career after the July international window, having held the whistle in 49 test matches to date, making him the 13th most-capped test referee in history.
Raynal will have Ireland’s Andrew Brace and Pierre Brousset of France running the line with Eric Gauzins (France) as TMO.
Meanwhile, England’s Matthew Carley will also be refereeing his first EPCR final when he takes charge of the heavyweight Champions Cup clash between Leinster and Toulouse on Saturday, 25 May.
Carley’s assistants will be Karl Dickson of England and Italy’s Andrea Piardi with Ian Tempest, also of England, as TMO.
EPCR CHALLENGE CUP FINAL
Gloucester Rugby v Hollywoodbets Sharks
Friday 24 May – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (Fra)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ire), Pierre Brousset (Fra)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL
Leinster Rugby v Stade Toulousain
Saturday 25 May – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (Eng), Andrea Piardi (Ita)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
Photo: Phill Magakoe/AFP
The post Sharks get French referee for final appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
