EPCR statement: Referee appointments for Champions Cup Round of 16

The EPCR have revealed their referee appointments ahead of the first leg of the Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 which takes place next month.

History will be made in early April as for the first time ever the new Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 fixtures will be played over two legs.

The EPCR have released the refereeing appointments.

A statement read: "Ahead of next month’s resumption of its tournaments and following a meeting of a selection committee chaired by EPCR’s Head of Match Officials, Tony Spreadbury, EPCR can announce the referee appointments for the Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 1st leg fixtures and for the matches in Round 5 of the EPCR Challenge Cup.

England’s Wayne Barnes will be in charge when Stade Toulousain continue the defence of their Heineken Champions Cup title against Ulster at Le Stadium on Saturday, 9 April, while on the same day, Mathieu Raynal of France will be in the middle for the clash of Sale Sharks and Bristol Bears at the AJ Bell Stadium again live on BT Sport with additional free-to-air coverage on Channel 4 and Virgin Media in the UK and Ireland.

Also on Saturday, 9 April, the eagerly-anticipated 1st leg meeting of former champions, Exeter Chiefs and Munster Rugby, at Sandy Park will be refereed by France’s Pierre Brousset, while Matthew Carley and Luke Pearce of England have been appointed for the all-TOP 14 contests between Union Bordeaux-Bègles and Stade Rochelais, and Stade Francais Paris and Racing 92 respectively.

Andrew Brace of Ireland will be in charge of Harlequins’ visit to Montpellier Hérault Rugby on Sunday, 10 April, and Georgia’s Nika Amashukeli will referee the head-to-head between ASM Clermont Auvergne and Gallagher Premiership leaders, Leicester Tigers, at Stade Marcel-Michelin.

The Round of 16 1st leg matches get underway on Friday, 8 April with the all-Irish meeting of Connacht Rugby and Leinster Rugby at The Sportsground which will be refereed by Karl Dickson of England.

Round 5 of the EPCR Challenge Cup also resumes on Friday, 8 April with the conclusion of the pool stage and England’s Sara Cox is set to referee the Pool C clash between Edinburgh Rugby and Section Paloise at the DAM Health Stadium while Mike Adamson of Scotland will be in the middle when CA Brive host Saracens at Stade Amédée Domenech in the same pool.

Heineken Champions Cup - Round of 16 first leg

(all kick-offs local times)

Friday 8 April

Connacht Rugby v Leinster Rugby, The Sportsground (20.00)

BT Sport / beIN SPORTS

Saturday 9 April

Sale Sharks v Bristol Bears, AJ Bell Stadium (13.00)

Channel 4 / Virgin Media / BT Sport / beIN SPORTS

Union Bordeaux-Bègles v Stade Rochelais, venue TBC (14.00)

beIN SPORTS / BT Sport

Stade Toulousain v Ulster Rugby, Le Stadium (16.15)

beIN SPORTS / FR 2 / BT Sport

Exeter Chiefs v Munster Rugby, Sandy Park (17.30)

BT Sport / beIN SPORTS

Stade Francais Paris v Racing 92, Stade Jean Bouin (18.30)

beIN SPORTS / BT Sport

Sunday 10 April

Montpellier Hérault Rugby v Harlequins, GGL Stadium (14.00)

beIN SPORTS / BT Sport

ASM Clermont Auvergne v Leicester Tigers, Stade Marcel-Michelin (16.15)

beIN SPORTS / FR 2 / BT Sport

Heineken Champions Cup - Round of 16 second leg

Friday 15 April

Leinster Rugby v Connacht Rugby, Aviva Stadium (17.30)

BT Sport / beIN SPORTS

Bristol Bears v Sale Sharks, Ashton Gate (20.00)

BT Sport / beIN SPORTS

Saturday 16 April

Harlequins v Montpellier Hérault Rugby, Twickenham Stoop (12.30)

Channel 4 / Virgin Media / BT Sport / beIN SPORTS

Munster Rugby v Exeter Chiefs, Thomond Park (15.00)

BT Sport / beIN SPORTS

Stade Rochelais v Union Bordeaux-Bégles, Stade Marcel Deflandre (16.00)

FR 2 / beIN SPORTS / BT Sport

Leicester Tigers v ASM Clermont Auvergne, Mattioli Woods Welford Road (17.30)

BT Sport / beIN SPORTS / FR 4

Ulster Rugby v Stade Toulousain, Kingspan Stadium (20.00)

BT Sport / beIN SPORTS

Sunday 17 April

Racing 92 v Stade Francais Paris, Paris La Défense Arena (16.30)

beIN SPORTS / BT Sport