Ireland’s Andrew Brace will be in charge of the opening match of the Investec Champions Cup on Friday, 6 December when the Blue, Black and White of Bath Rugby welcome two-time winners Stade Rochelais to The Rec to signal the start of the 30th season of club rugby’s premier competition.
The confirmation comes following the announcement of the match officials for Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2024/25 Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup appointed by a committee chaired by EPCR’s Head of Match Officials, Tony Spreadbury.
On Saturday, 7 December, rivalries will be reignited across eight Investec Champions Cup fixtures. England’s Christophe Ridley has been appointed for the Pool 2 clash between three-time EPCR Challenge Cup winners ASM Clermont Auvergne and 2024 EPCR Challenge Cup semi-finalists Benetton Rugby at Stade Marcel-Michelin. Sam Grove-White of Scotland will be in the middle when last season’s Gallagher Premiership winners Northampton Saints kick off their Pool 3 campaign against Castres Olympique at cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens.
Also in Pool 3, two-time winners of the Investec Champions Cup Munster Rugby will take on Stade Français Paris at Thomond Park under the management of Luke Pearce (ENG), while Craig Evans (WAL) will be in charge as Saracens welcome Vodacom Bulls to the StoneX Stadium, both kicking off at 5.30pm GMT (7.30pm SAST).
Jeremy Rozier (FRA) will make his Investec Champions Cup debut in the Pool 1 confrontation between 2024 EPCR Challenge Cup winner Hollywoodbets Sharks and Exeter Chiefs at the Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban. Staying in South Africa, Karl Dickson (ENG) will referee the Pool 4 meeting of DHL stormers and RC Toulon at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Italy’s Andrea Piardi will be in charge as Sale Sharks travel to the Scotstoun Stadium to take on the Glasgow Warriors, while Ireland’s Chris Busby will referee the Pool 4 meeting of Racing 92 and Harlequins at Stade Dominique Duvauchelle.
On Sunday 8 December, Englishman Adam Leal will be in the middle for the eagerly awaited clash of 2024 Investec Champions Cup winners Stade Toulousain and Ulster Rugby at Stade Ernest Wallon, as the reigning champions get their campaign for an unprecedented seventh title underway in Pool 1. On the same day, France’s Pierre Brousset will be in charge of the Pool 2 match between last year’s runners up Leinster Rugby at Bristol Bears home ground, Ashton Gate. Union Bordeaux-Bègles will host Leicester Tigers in Pool 1 at the Stade Chaban-Delmas, with Georgia’s Nika Amashukeli in charge.
The EPCR Challenge Cup also kicks off on Friday, 6 December with two opening night matches. Morne Ferreira of South Africa will take charge when Dragons RFC host Montpellier Hérault Rugby at Rodney Parade as their Pool 2 campaign gets underway.
Ludovic Cayre (FRA) has been appointed referee for the Pool 3 meeting of 2024 EPCR Challenge Cup runners up Gloucester Rugby and Edinburgh Rugby at Kingsholm Stadium. The following week, Cayre will make his Investec Champions Cup debut in the Round 2 match between Harlequins and DHL Stormers.
Scotland’s Hollie Davidson and Italy’s Gianluca Gnecchi will also both oversee their inaugural Investec Champions Cup matches in Round 2, following EPCR Challenge Cup matches in Round 1. Davidson will be in the middle for the Pool 3 match as Stade Français Paris host Saracens at Stade Jean Bouin, while Gnecchi will be in charge as Union Bordeaux-Bègles travel to Kingspan Stadium to take on Ulster Rugby in Pool 1.
Kevin Bralley (FRA) will be the man with the whistle when Ospreys host the Emirates Lions on Sunday, 8 December while Federico Vedovelli (ITA) is in charge of the Toyota Cheetahs' clash with USAP in Bloemfontein.
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