French officials predominant for Irish teams
Rugby:The Irish provinces will be hoping for a little entente cordiale as they will be predominantly refereed by French officials in the final two rounds of the Heineken Cup in January.
In the Round five pool matches Pascal Gauzere will take charge of Ulster’s game against Glasgow Warriors, Mathieu Raynal will preside when Harlequins host Connacht, Jerome Garces is the man in the middle for Leinster’s game against the Scarlets at the Aviva stadium while Romain Poite has been pencilled in for Munster’s trip to Edinbugh.
That weekend, there will be four Irish referees in action Alain Rolland (Racing Metro 92 v Saracens), George Clancy (Northampton Saints v Castes), Peter Fitzgibbon (Zebre v Biarritz) and John Lacey (Ospreys v Leicester Tigers).
In the final round of matches Connacht will have Gauzere for the second time this season – he didn’t endear himself to the Sportsground crowd during the Biarritz game – Ulster have Nigel Owens for their trip to Castres, Poite will preside over Leinster’s trip to Exeter, while England’s Wayne Barnes will be in charge when Racing Metro 92 visit Thomond Park.
Lacey has been given Biatrritz’s game against Harlequins, Rolland Montpellier against Toulon and Clancy the potential pool decider between the Leicester Tigers and Toulouse at Welford Road.
