South Africa’s Jaco Peyper and Wayne Barnes of England will referee this season’s Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup finals respectively following the announcement on Tuesday of the match officials for the showpiece games who have been appointed by a selection committee chaired by EPCR’s Head of Match Officials, Tony Spreadbury.
Peyper will make history by becoming the first South African official to referee an EPCR final when he takes charge of the Heineken Champions Cup decider between Leinster Rugby and holders, Stade Rochelais, at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Saturday 20 May.
His assistants will be the English duo, Karl Dickson and Christophe Ridley, with Tom Foley, also of England, as TMO and Beth Dickens (Scotland) as the match Citing Commissioner.
The vastly-experienced Barnes will be refereeing his sixth EPCR final following his appointment for the EPCR Challenge Cup clash of Glasgow Warriors v RC Toulon at the Aviva Stadium on Friday 19 May.
He has previously taken charge of the 2012 and 2019 Challenge Cup deciding matches as well as three Heineken Champions Cup finals in 2010, 2018 and last season.
Barnes will have Ireland’s Chris Busby and Craig Evans of Wales running the line with Ben Whitehouse (Wales) as TMO and Ciaran Scally (Ireland) as Citing Commissioner.
EPCR CHALLENGE CUP FINAL
(Kick-off local time)
Glasgow Warriors v RC Toulon
Friday 19 May – Aviva Stadium, Dublin (21.00)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (Eng); Assistant referees: Chris Busby (Ire), Craig Evans (Wal); TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wal); Citing Commissioner: Ciaran Scally (Ire)
HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL
(Kick-off local time)
Leinster Rugby v Stade Rochelais
Saturday 20 May – Aviva Stadium, Dublin (17.45)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SA); Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (Eng), Christophe Ridley (Eng); TMO: Tom Foley (Eng); Citing Commissioner: Beth Dickens (Sco)