Barnes to referee Heineken Cup semi final

20 April 2012

Top RFU referee Wayne Barnes to officiate Clermont v Leinster semi final
Fellow English official Dave Pearson to assist at Heineken Cup semi final

RFU referee Wayne Barnes sends off Worcester Warriors fly half Andy Goode in the Aviva Premiership

Photo: Getty Images

Leading RFU official Wayne Barnes will take charge of the second Heineken Cup semi final between ASM Clermont Auvergne and reigning champions Leinster on Sunday, April 29.

Barnes, 33, has been awarded the high-profile contest at the 34,000 capacity Stade Chaban-Delmas, with Clermont making a first ever appearance in the last four of the competition.

The match has already generated ticket sales of 22,000 in Bordeaux as the home side look to derail Leinster’s attempt for an unprecedented third title in four seasons.

Rugby World Cup 2011 referee Barnes was selected by the ERC Match Officials Sub Committee after taking into consideration a comprehensive ongoing review of performances across all relevant tournaments in conjunction with the referee managers in each union. Throughout the competition, ERC also provides an opportunity for coaches to share their feedback on the performance of match officials and that feedback is considered in the review process.

ASM Clermont Auvergne scrum half Morgan Parra

Photo: Getty Images

Barnes will be assisted by fellow RFU official Dave Pearson and Welsh referee Nigel Owens.

As the penultimate stage of Europe’s elite club rugby tournament approaches, France’s Romain Poite will take charge of the other Heineken Cup semi final when Ulster Rugby clash with Edinburgh Rugby in what promises to be an historic occasion at the Aviva Stadium.

With Edinburgh appearing in a first ever game in the last four, and with 1999 champions, Ulster, bridging a 13-year gap since their last semi-final match, the Dublin contest on Saturday, 28 April looks set to attract another massive attendance as 37,000 tickets have already been snapped up by supporters.

Poite, who refereed the 2011 final, has been on duty in all seven Heineken Cup weekends to date this season and will be taking of his charge of his 50th ERC match at the Aviva Stadium.