French ref for Sharks' Euro Final

NEWS: The French referee Mathieu Raynal will take charge of the Challenge Cup Final between Sharks and Gloucester in London on May 24.

The EPCR confirmed on Wednesday that Raynal will officiate the Challenge Cup and England’s Matthew Carley will be the man in the middle Champions Cup Final between Leinster and Stade Toulousain on May 25.

The Challenge Cup and the Champions Cup will take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Raynal, who is set to retire,  will be refereeing his first EPCR final when he takes charge of the Challenge Cup decider, while Carley who will take on control of the Champions Cup will also be in charge of an EPCR final for the first time.

Raynal is the 13th most-capped test referee in history after having held in 49 test matches to date.

The French official was recently in charge of the Leinster versus Northampton Champions Cup semifinal in Dublin.

Raynal will have Ireland’s Andrew Brace and Pierre Brousset of France running the line with Eric Gauzins (France) as TMO and Ed Kenny (Ireland) as Citing Commissioner.

Carley’s assistants will be Karl Dickson of England and Italy’s Andrea Piardi with Ian Tempest, also of England, as TMO and Stefano Marrama (Itay) as the match Citing Commissioner.

CHALLENGE CUP FINAL!

Gloucester v Sharks

Date: Friday, May 24
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Kick-off: 20.00 (19.00 GMT; 21.00 SA time)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), Pierre Brousset (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Franne)

CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL!

Leinster v Stade Toulousain

Date: Saturday, May 25
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Kick-off: 14.45 (13.45 GMT; 15.45 French time)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)