URC, Round 16 match official appointments

NEWS: The match official appointments of the United Rugby Championship Round 16 fixtures have been confirmed.

The notable selection – or non-selection – is the absence of Italian referee Andrea Piardi.

He was not named for any match this week, after his horror blunder in the Bulls’ 16-13 win over Munster last week.

Piardi is in the spotlight after the controversy at Thomond Park this past weekend, when he made a call that reduced Munster to 14 men, following injuries to both of the Irish province’s tighthead props.

It is reported that URC refereeing boss Tappe Henning has admitted it was a ‘mistake’, although the URC media department has not responded to a request for confirmation of this.

FRIDAY, APRIL 25

Glasgow Warriors v Bulls
(Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – Kick-off: 19.35; 20.35 SA time; 18.35 GMT)

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Ru Campbell (Scotland), Finlay Brown (Scotland)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)

Cardiff v Munster
(Arms Park, Cardiff – Kick-off: 19.35; 18.35 GMT)

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Mike English (Wales), Aaron Parry (Wales)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)

SATURDAY, APRIL 26

Lions v Connacht
(Ellis Park, Johannesburg – Kick-off: 16.00; 15.00 Irish time; 14.00 GMT)

Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Morné Ferreira (South Africa), Hanru Van Rooyen (South Africa)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

Ospreys v Dragons
(Swansea – Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 GMT)

Referee: Ben Breakspear (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Gareth Newman (Wales), Carwyn Sion (Wales)
TMO: Tom Spurrier (Scotland)

Stormers v Benetton
(Cape Town stadium – Kick-off: 18.15; 18.15 Italian time; 16.15 GMT)

Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Craig Evans (Wales)

Scarlets v Leinster
(Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli – Kick-off: 17.15; 16.15 GMT)

Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Matthew Leon (Wales), Aaron Perry (Wales)
TMO: Colin Brett (Scotland)

Ulster v Sharks
(Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast – Kick-off: 19.35; 20.35 SA time; 18.35 GMT)

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant referees: Padraic Reidy (Ireland), Paul Haycock (Ireland)
TMO: Keith David (Wales)

Zebre v Edinburgh
(Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma – Kick-off: 20.35; 19.35 UK time; 18.35 GMT)

Referee: Ben Connor (Wales)
Assistant referees: Filippo Russo (Italy), Dario Merli (Italy)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)