WELSHMAN NIGEL OWENS has been appointed to referee Leinster’s Heineken Cup Pool 1 clash with the Northampton Saints on the 7th of December.
The world class official most recently took charge of Ireland’s defeat to the All Blacks on Sunday, provoking more of the praise he has attracted this season for his excellent form. Owens’ appointment means we are likely to see a flowing game in Franklin’s Gardens.
Elsewhere, Munster’s clash with Perpignan in Round 3 of the Heineken Cup pool stages will see Greg Garner of the RFU take charge at Thomond Park. Ulster’s encounter with Treviso in Ravenhill will be refereed by Luke Pearce of the RFU, while Connacht’s trip to Toulouse sees Marius Mitrea of the Italian federation on the whistle.
A week later, Leinster welcome the Saints to Dublin and Frenchman Jerome Garces is penciled in as the leading match official. The FFR man is known to be fussy and demanding on occasion, so O’Connor’s side will need to be extremely disciplined.
Munster’s return game against Top 14 side Perpignan will be adjudicated by JP Doyle, the Dublin native who works out of England. Connacht will host Toulouse in Galway under the rule of Leighton Hodges of the WRU, while Ulster travel to Italy to take on Treviso with Greg Garner of the RFU taking control.
