ERC reveals ref for Heineken Cup final
Thursday, 8 May 2008 18:14Nigel Owens will referee his first Heineken Cup final when he takes charge of the clash between Munster and Toulouse at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, 24 May.
The leading Welsh official refereed his first semi-final when he was in the middle for Munster's win over Saracens at the Ricoh Arena last month and the final will mean he has not missed a single tournament weekend, controlling a maximum nine Heineken Cup matches this season.
The added bonus for Owens is that he will be in charge of the match on home soil', referees rarely able to officiate at major matches played at their own national ground.
The final will be 36-year-old's 32nd Heineken Cup match and his 39th European fixture overall.
He will be the third Welsh referee to take charge of a Heineken Cup final, following in the footsteps of Derek Bevan (1997) and Clayton Thomas (1999).
Owens made his European bow when he refereed the 2001 match between London Irish and Piacenza.
