Top Irish referee Rolland to hit 50 Heineken mark

ALAIN ROLLAND will become just the second referee to take charge of 50 Heineken Cup matches when he oversees next month’s round two clash between Harlequins and Toulouse at The Stoop.

The former Ireland and Leinster scrum-half, who can count the 2007 World Cup final between South Africa and England among the highlights of his refereeing career, will join fellow Irishman Alan Lewis as a half centurion.

Lewis will take his record tally to 61 games when he takes charge of Biarritz’s meeting with Gloucester on the same day.

European Rugby Cup (ERC) yesterday released the referee appointments for the first two rounds of the season, as the Heineken Cup enters its 15th year.

Welshman James Jones will get the competition underway at Ravenhill as Ulster host Bath on Friday, October 9. Frenchman Romain Poite will be the man in the middle as Leinster host London Irish in their opening clash on the same night. Christophe Berdos will oversee Munster’s visit to Northampton Saints the following day.

In round two, Jermoe Garces will take charge of Munster’s home clash with Benetton Treviso, while James Jones oversees Leinster’s visit to Brive.

Aside from Rolland and Lewis, two other Irish whistleblowers are in action in the opening rounds. Peter Fitzgibbon oversees Gloucester’s meeting with the Dragons, with George Clancy tasked with keeping Toulouse and Bath honest.