Irish referees to handle key ties

Irish referees are up in lights again for rounds five and six of the Heineken Cup next month, with four men on the 14-man panel.

George Clancy, Alain Rolland, Peter Fitzgibbon and John Lacey form the Irish quartet that matches four representatives from France, including the recently-promoted Pascal Gauzere, who was a controversial figure in Munster’s clash with Saracens at Thomond Park.

Munster will, however, have another controversial Frenchman in charge of round five away to Edinburgh, Romain Poite, while Englishman Wayne Barnes takes charge of the final pool game at home to Racing Metro.

Gauzere will take charge of Ulster’s round five game at home to Glasgow and has another trip to Ireland for the round six tie between Connacht and Zebre.

Heineken Cup champions Leinster will have Frenchman Jerome Garces for their round five game against Scarlets in Dublin, while Poite gets to officiate in their final game away to Exeter Chiefs.

The four Irishmen get to officiate in each of the two rounds and Rolland has an interesting appointment in round five; that between a crucial clash between Munster’s pool partners Racing Metro and Saracens.

Former Munster player Lacey, meanwhile, takes charge of high-profile games between Ospreys and Leicester Tigers in round five before refereeing Biarritz v Harlequins in round six.