Champions Cup: Wayne Barnes to referee final while Luke Pearce gets Challenge Cup whistle

Adam Kyriacou

EPCR has announced that Wayne Barnes and Luke Pearce will referee this season’s Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals respectively.

The decisions were made by EPCR’s head of match officials Tony Spreadbury, with the Champions Cup appointment being Barnes’ third final.

It will also be the experienced referee’s 90th tournament fixture in what will be a popular appointment for the huge Leinster v La Rochelle showdown.

Barnes’ assistants for the game at Stade Velodrome next Saturday will be Matthew Carley (England) and Christophe Ridley (England), with Tom Foley (England) as TMO and Stefano Marrama (Italy) the citing commissioner for the meeting in Marseille.

As mentioned, Pearce will take charge of the Challenge Cup final between Lyon and Toulon at the same venue, which will be Pearce’s second European final.

He’s joined by Irish assistant referees Andrew Brace and Frank Murphy, with Ian Tempest (England) as TMO and Ed Kenny (Ireland) citing commissioner.

Champions Cup final

Leinster v La Rochelle
Date: Saturday, May 28
Venue: Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Kick-off: 17:45 local (16:45 BST, 15:45 GMT)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (England), Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)
Citing Commissioner: Stefano Marrama (Italy)

Challenge Cup final

Lyon v Toulon
Date: Friday, May 27
Venue: Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Kick-off: 21:00 local (20:00 BST, 19:00 GMT)
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), Frank Murphy (Ireland)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)
Citing Commissioner: Ed Kenny (Ireland)

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Eddie Jones on Leinster's form and La Rochelle

England boss Eddie Jones on Leinster and their Champions Cup opponents La Rochelle.