Anglo-French feel to Champions Cup quarter-finals as veteran Owens given weekend off
This month’s Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals in Dublin, Clermont, Toulouse and Exeter will have an Anglo-French feel to them as two referees from France and two from England have been appointed to take charge of the last-eight round of matches, leaving popular Welsh official Nigel Owens without a game.
France’s Pascal Gauzere will be in charge when the Champions Cup resumes with the heavyweight clash of No1-ranked Leinster and holders Saracens on September 19 at the Aviva Stadium. This was a match-up officiated by Jerome Garces when the teams met in May 2019 in the final in Newcastle.
Later the same September 19 day, Romain Poite, also of France, will be in the middle for the showdown at Stade Marcel-Michelin between Clermont Auvergne and Racing 92.
Then on Sunday, September 20, England’s Wayne Barnes will take charge of the head-to-head between four-time champions Toulouse and Ulster at Le Stadium, which will be followed at Sandy Park by the meeting of in-form Exeter Chiefs and Northampton Saints, a tie that will be refereed by Matthew Carley of England.
The Challenge Cup last-eight matches get underway on September 18 with France’s Mathieu Raynal appointed for the clash of Bristol Bears and the Dragons at Ashton Gate.
The tension is ramping up as we get closer and closer to the return of Europe's elite club rugby competition ?
8 of the best remain in contention to lift the trophy in the 25th edition of the #HeinekenChampionsCup ?
Who would you like to see win it? pic.twitter.com/Jv1rlt09ZN
— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) September 7, 2020
Ireland’s Frank Murphy will be in the middle for the following day’s Stade Chaban-Delmas meeting of Bordeaux and Edinburgh, while his compatriot, Andrew Brace, has been appointed for the Toulon-Scarlets tie at Stade Felix Mayol.
The concluding Challenge Cup quarter-final on September 20, which pits Leicester Tigers against Castres Olympique at Welford Road, will be refereed by Mike Adamson of Scotland.
Popular veteran referee Owens has been given the weekend off after being excluded from the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup rosters.
A statement from tournament organisers EPCR read: “All assistant referees and TMOs for the eight quarter-finals are from the unions of countries in which the matches are being played.
“All match official appointments are consistent with the advice of EPCR’s medical advisory group, which includes the chief medical officers of the six unions as well as the medical leads from Gallagher Premiership Rugby, the Guinness PRO14 and the LNR.”
With no appointments to referee for next few weeks at least life on the farm is keeping one very busy and active. First calf for this heifer both doing well after some help along the way thanks to Rhys @ProStockVets. Another bull calf addition to The Mairwen Herd pic.twitter.com/Fa7N03sjJZ
— Nigel Owens MBE (@Nigelrefowens) September 8, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
7 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to comments