Familiar face for Munster at Heineken Cup final

Welshman Nigel Owens will referee his first Heineken Cup final at The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on Saturday, May 24 (5pm).

Munster are well use to Owens' style of refereeing as they come across him on a regular basis in the Manger's League.

He was also the man in the middle of the semi-final win over Saracens at the Ricoh Arena last month.

The final will be 36-year-old Owens' 32nd Heineken Cup match and his 39th European fixture overall, including last season's European Challenge Cup final between ASM Clermont Auvergne and Bath Rugby at the Twickenham Stoop.

He will be the third Welsh referee to take charge of a Heineken Cup final, following in the footsteps of Derek Bevan (1997) and Clayton Thomas (1999), and the 11th referee to take charge of European club rugby's showpiece match.