White handed whistle for Heineken final

CHRIS WHITE will referee the Heineken Cup final between Perpignan and Toulouse at Lansdowne Road, Dublin, on May 24.

The 39-year-old former junior school teacher from Cheltenham, who was in charge of the semi-final between Toulouse and Munster 11 days ago, is the first English official to referee a Heineken Cup final.

White had to retire as a player at 25 with a shoulder injury and is now among the game's leading and most respected officials.