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.