United Rugby Championship semi-final match officials confirmed
The match officials for this week’s United Rugby Championship semi-finals between the Bulls and Leinster, and Munster and Glasgow Warriors have been announced.
Both fixtures will take place on Saturday as the action kicks off at Loftus Versfeld where the Bulls take on Leinster in what promises to be a blockbuster showdown.
Immediately following that the focus shifts to Limerick and Thomond Park, where reigning champions and number one seeds Munster clash with Glasgow Warriors.
Sam Grove-White at Loftus
Scottish official Sam Grove-White has the honour of refereeing the meeting in Pretoria and will be assisted by Mike Adamson (Scotland) and Adam Jones (Wales), with fellow Welshman Ben Whitehouse the Television Match Official. Grove-White makes the step up after he was an assistant referee in the Bulls‘ quarter-final.
The same can be said of Italian official Andrea Piardi, who has been promoted from quarter-final assistant referee to semi-final referee for the Munster v Glasgow tie.
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Piardi will be assisted by fellow countrymen Gianluca Gnecchi and Federico Vedovelli on the touchline while Matteo Lipirini (also Italy) is appointed as the TMO.
This will be Piardi’s 44th league game, while for Grove-White, he is set to run out for his 45th league fixture this Saturday as two fascinating knockout games await.
If Munster win their clash with the Warriors they will book a home final but a defeat would hand home field advantage to the winner of the Bulls v Leinster semi.
United Rugby Championship semi-final match officials
Vodacom Bulls v Leinster
Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Kick-off: 16:00 local (15:00 BST, 14:00 GMT)
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 45th league game)
Assistant Referees: Mike Adamson (SRU), Adam Jones (WRU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
Live on: SuperSport, RT?, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Munster v Glasgow Warriors
Venue: Thomond Park, Limerick
Kick-off: 18:00 BST (17:00 GMT)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 44th league game)
Assistant Referees: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR), Federico Vedovelli (FIR)
TMO: Matteo Lipirini (FIR)
Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv