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Referees confirmed for Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Rounds 4 & 5
The referees for Rounds Three and Four of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup have been confirmed. The return of EPCR’s tournaments with qualification for the knockout stages on the line will see Ireland’s Chris Busby taking charge of the key Champions Cup, Pool One clash between in-form Union Bordeaux-Bègles and Saracens next Sunday, January 14.
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The Round Three meeting of Union Bordeaux-Bègles – one of only three teams with a maximum 10 points to date – and the reigning Premiership champions at Stade Chaban-Delmas.
Matthew Carley of England has been appointed for the head-to-head between Stade Toulousain, also with a maximum return from their opening fixtures, and Ulster Rugby at the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday, January 13, while Italy’s Andrea Piardi will be in the middle the following day when Bath – who like Stade Toulousain have 10 points in Pool Two – host Racing 92 at the Recreation Ground.
On Saturday, January 13, England’s Christophe Ridley will referee unbeaten Leinster’s Pool Four confrontation with Stade Francais Paris at Lansdowne Road.
Andrew Brace of Ireland will be in charge when Leicester Tigers, who like Leinster have nine points in Pool Four, travel to face the holders Stade Rochelais at Stade Marcel-Deflandre on Sunday, January 14.
The two unbeaten teams in Pool Three, Exeter Chiefs and Northampton Saints, who host Glasgow Warriors and Aviron Bayonnais respectively, will have their Round Three matches refereed by France’s Pierre Brousset and Mike Adamson of Scotland.
The Challenge Cup gets underway again on Friday, January 12, and France’s Tual Trainini has been appointed for the Pool Two meeting of Newcastle Falcons and Benetton at Kingston Park, while Morné Ferreira of South Africa will be in the middle when the Ospreys are up against Perpignan in Swansea also in Pool Two on the same day.
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The fixture between Pool One leaders, the Cheetahs, and Section Paloise at the NRCA Stadium in Amsterdam will be refereed by Scotland’s Hollie Davidson.
Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments