Jutge takes charge at Lansdowne

Leading French referee Joel Jutge will take charge of the Heineken European Cup semi-final between Leinster and Munster in Dublin on April 23rd.

Jutge was in charge of the Millennium Stadium final in 2002, when he missed former Leicester Tigers flanker Neil Back slapping the ball from Peter Stringer's hand as the scrumhalf prepared to feed an attacking scrum in the 80th minute. The Tigers won 15-9.

Former Irish international scrumhalf turned referee Alain Rolland will adjudicate on the other semi-final between Biarritz and Bath on Saturday, April 22nd at Estadio Anoeta in San Sebastian. Rolland refereed the 2004 final between Toulouse and London Wasps.

It became apparent over the weekend that Ronan O'Gara spent several days in hospital after a gashed knee, sustained in the win over Perpignan, became infected.

O'Gara - who also has a hamstring complaint - and replacement outhalf Jeremy Manning, Christian Cullen and Denis Leamy are all rated doubtful for Saturday's Celtic League encounter against Edinburgh Gunners at Thomond Park.

Manning was stretchered off with a head injury during the 23-17 defeat to the Dragons on Friday, but was subsequently cleared of concussion. Cullen (thigh) and Leamy (ankle) may not be risked in Munster's final game before the first ever European Cup meeting with Leinster.

Encouragingly, all four players took some part in yesterday's training session. Marcus Horan, however, did not. The international loosehead prop will be excluded from tomorrow's squad as he endeavours to recover from a calf strain.

With Barry Murphy a long-term casualty, the race for the number 13 jersey remains Munster's other significant selection issue. Tomás O'Leary is the incumbent, although Mike Mullins made a timely return to action as a 48th-minute replacement against the Dragons.

Leinster face Llanelli Scarlets on Friday night at Lansdowne Road. A "Family Day" has been organised from 5.30pm - kick-off 7.10pm - in an attempt to break their Celtic League record attendance of 14,135, set when Munster came to the RDS on New Year's Eve. Gordon D'Arcy and Reggie Corrigan are expected to return after sitting out the one-point victory over Border Reivers for precautionary reasons.

Scarlets captain Simon Easterby is unlikely to feature after swallowing his tongue during Sunday's Anglo-Welsh Cup final defeat to London Wasps.

Despite Friday's error-strewn performance, Leinster still went top of the Celtic League table and are nicely poised to widen a two-point gap on second-placed Ulster, who must travel to Glasgow on Saturday.

Ulster will confirm the re-signing of Andrew Trimble later this week. The 21-year-old centre/winger be contracted to the IRFU and Ulster, at least until after the 2007 World Cup.

Connacht play the Dragons at the Sportsground on Saturday afternoon in the only Irish fixture not televised live on Setanta Sport.

Meanwhile, official channels are no longer an option for those immersed in the European Cup semi-final ticket frenzy.

The two provinces have distributed their 21,400 allocations to season ticket holders, sponsors, clubs and schools.

European Cup Semi-finals

Saturday, April 22nd - Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque v Bath Rugby, 4pm, Alain Rolland (Ireland), Estadio Anoeta, San Sebastian, FR2/Sky Sports.

Sunday, April 23rd - Leinster v Munster, 3pm, Joel Jutge (France), Lansdowne Road, Dublin, RTÉ/Sky Sports/Sports+.

European Challenge Cup Semi-finals

Saturday, April 22nd - Gloucester Rugby v Worcester Warriors, 12.35pm, Christophe Berdos (France), Kingsholm, Sky Sports.

Sunday, April 23rd - Newcastle Falcons v London Irish, 12.35pm, Nigel Owens (Wales), Kingston Park, Sky Sports.

(All kick-offs local times)