EPCR confirm Round of 16 match officials for Champions/Challenge Cup

Referees from six different countries will be in charge of the Champions Cup Round of 16 fixtures taking place the weekend after next.

Scotland’s ground-breaking match official, Hollie Davidson, will blow the first whistle after being appointed as the referee for the opening Round of 16 tie, Northampton vs Castres, at Franklin’s Gardens on Friday, 3 April.

The first of Saturday’s five matches, Bath vs Saracens, will be overseen by Nika Amashukeli, the Georgian referee who leaps from the cauldron of Le Crunch to a huge all-English Champions Cup tie.

Christophe Ridley is the first of two Englishmen to be in the middle, for the clash between Toulon and Stormers, while France’s Pierre Brousset and Italy’s Gianluca Gnecchi will run the rule over Glasgow vs Bulls and Toulouse vs Bristol, respectively.

Brousset’s countryman, Luc Ramos, has been appointed for the evening fixture between Harlequins and Sale Sharks.

Sunday’s action begins with Ireland’s Andrew Brace in charge, as reigning champions and top seeds Union Bordeaux Bègles welcome Leicester Tigers to Stade Chaban-Delmas.

The Round of 16 concludes with England’s Luke Pearce officiating the final match of the Round of 16, as unbeaten Leinster Rugby host Edinburgh Rugby at the Aviva Stadium.

The EPCR Challenge Cup also features referees from Scotland, England, Ireland and France, as well as South African Morne Ferreira and Welsh prodigy Ben Brakespear.

The full list of match official appointments can be found HERE>>