Match official appointments - Euro, Round One
NEWS: Ireland’s Andrew Brace will be in charge of the opening match of the Champions Cup on Friday, December 6.
Bath welcomes two-time winners Stade Rochelais to The Rec to signal the start of the 30th season.
The confirmation comes following the announcement of the match officials for Rounds One and Two of the 2024/25 Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup appointments.
On Saturday, December 7, rivalries will be reignited across eight Champions Cup fixtures.
England’s Christophe Ridley has been appointed for the Pool Two clash between three-time EPCR Challenge Cup winners ASM Clermont Auvergne and 2024 EPCR Challenge Cup semifinalists Benetton at Stade Marcel-Michelin.
Sam Grove-White of Scotland will be in the middle when last season’s Premiership winners Northampton Saints kick off their Pool Three campaign against Castres Olympique at Franklin’s Gardens.
Also in Pool Three, two-time winners of the Champions Cup Munster will take on Stade Français Paris at Thomond Park under the management of Luke Pearce (England), while Craig Evans (Wales) will be in charge as Saracens welcome the Bulls.
Jeremy Rozier (France) will make his Champions Cup debut in the Pool One confrontation between 2024 EPCR Challenge Cup winner Sharks and Exeter Chiefs at the Kings Park in Durban.
Staying in South Africa, Karl Dickson (England) will referee the Pool Four meeting of Stormers and RC Toulon at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Italy’s Andrea Piardi will be in charge as Sale Sharks travel to the Scotstoun Stadium to take on the Glasgow Warriors, while Ireland’s Chris Busby will referee the Pool Four meeting of Racing 92 and Harlequins at Stade Dominique Duvauchelle.
On Sunday, December 8, Englishman Adam Leal will be in the middle for the eagerly awaited clash of 2024 Champions Cup winners Stade Toulousain and Ulster at Stade Ernest Wallon, as the reigning champions get their campaign for an unprecedented seventh title underway in Pool One.
On the same day, France’s Pierre Brousset will be in charge of the Pool Two match between last year’s runners-up Leinster at Bristol Bears home ground, Ashton Gate. Union Bordeaux-Bègles will host Leicester Tigers in Pool One at the Stade Chaban-Delmas, with Georgia’s Nika Amashukeli in charge.
The EPCR Challenge Cup also kicks off on Friday, December 6 with two matches.
Morné Ferreira of South Africa will take charge when Dragons host Montpellier Hérault at Rodney Parade as their Pool Two campaign gets underway.
Ludovic Cayre (France) has been appointed referee for the Pool Three meeting of 2024 EPCR Challenge Cup runners-up Gloucester and Edinburgh at Kingsholm Stadium.
The following week, Cayre will make his Champions Cup debut in the Round Two match between Harlequins and Stormers.
Scotland’s Hollie Davidson and Italy’s Gianluca Gnecchi will also both oversee their inaugural Champions Cup matches in Round Two, following EPCR Challenge Cup matches in Round One.
Davidson will be in the middle for the Pool Three match as Stade Français Paris hosts Saracens at Stade Jean Bouin, while Gnecchi will be in charge as Union Bordeaux-Bègles travel to Ravenhill Stadium to take on Ulster in Pool One.
* Click HERE for the match official appointments for Rounds One and Two of the Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup.
