Rugby:Nigel Owens will referee his third Heineken Cup final when he takes charge of this season's club showpiece between Leinster and Ulster at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday week.
The 40 year old Welsh official refereed the 2008 and 2009 finals won by Munster and Leinster respectively, and the eagerly anticipated all-Irish clash will be his 70th game in European club tournaments.
Owens has officiated at seven of the eight European weekends so far this season and was took charge of last month’s Heineken Cup quarter-final between Edinburgh and Toulouse at Murrayfield.
England’s Wayne Barnes will take charge of his first Amlin Challenge Cup final between French rivals Biarritz Olympique and RC Toulon at the Twickenham Stoop on Friday week. Barnes was in charge of Leinster’s Heineken Cup semi-final win over Clermont Auvergne in Bordeaux. He also took charge of the 2010 final when Toulouse beat Biarritz at the Stade de France.
Friday, 18th May
Amlin Challenge Cup final:Biarritz Olympique v RC Toulon, Twickenham Stoop (8.00). Referee: Wayne Barnes (Eng); Assistant referee 1: Dave Pearson (Eng); Assistant referee 2: JP Doyle (Eng)
Saturday, 19th May
Heineken Cup final:Leinster v Ulster, Twickenham Stadium (5.00). Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales); Assistant referee 1: Romain Poite (France); Assistant referee 2: Jerome Garces (France).
