McHugh takes charge in Cup opener

RUGBY: Dave McHugh, the only referee to take charge of two European Cup finals, will start his duties in the eighth season of Europe's premier club tournament by taking charge of Leicester Tigers' opening match in defence of their title.

The appointment of officials, by the ERC match officials sub-committee, have been made for the first two rounds only. After the first two weekends the sub-committee will review performances and consider appointments for the subsequent Pool matches.

Meanwhile, McHugh is set to return to refereeing later this month after suffering a dislocated shoulder in the Tri-Nations clash between South Africa and New Zealand in Durban.

And when the European Cup resumes on the second weekend of October, he will control the Tigers' trip to Neath on Friday night, October 11th, as Martin Johnson and his double champions bid to win their first cup match on Welsh soil in three attempts.

"This will be my eighth season refereeing in the Heineken Cup," said McHugh (44). "And having seen the tournament grow from Day One - I always loved the concept, even when there were only 15 matches that first tournament - the growth has been phenomenal and I am as enthusiastic now as I was then about any Heineken Cup appointment.

"I have never refereed Neath, either home or away, and I am very much looking forward going to The Gnoll. Like any match in the tournament, it will be a huge challenge."

McHugh will become Ireland's most celebrated referee when he makes his 24th Test appearance in the autumn match between France and Canada, eclipsing Kevin Kelleher's 23-international mark.

Coincidentally, Pieter van Zyl, the spectator who attacked McHugh during that match between South Africa and New Zealand, was found guilty of assault in a Durban magistrate's court yesterday.

Sentencing was postponed to October 28th after court officials struggled to establish whether Potchefstroom businessman Van Zyl (43), had previous criminal convictions.

Van Zyl was initially charged with grievous bodily harm but his lawyers argued that the attack on McHugh was not strong enough to warrant the charge. The charge was reduced to common assault, to which Van Zyl pleaded guilty.

Donal Courtney will referee the Montferrand-Swansea game, who are in the same pool as Leinster, while in the second weekend Simon McDowell will be in charge of the Viadana-Gloucester, who are group rivals of Munster, and Alain Rolland will referee the Biarritz-Northampton game.

Joel Dume will referee Munster's opening trip to English championship challengers Gloucester. The previous night in Donnybrook, Leinster's game against Bristol will be refereed by Rob Dickson, while Ulster's trip to Northampton will have an Italian in charge, Antonio Lombardi.

In the Parker Pen Challenge Cup, Connacht will be hopeful of a better performance from Giovanni Morandin for their first round, first leg match away to Mont de Marsan than was the case when the Italian referee blew Leinster off the park in Biarritz the season before last.

EUROPEAN CUP REFEREES

Round One: October 11th/12th/13th - Amatori & Calvisano v Beziers, Steve Lander (Eng); Neath v Leicester Tigers, David McHugh (Ire); Gloucester v Munster, Joel Dume (Fra); Perpignan v Viadana, Andrew Ireland (Scot); Llanelli v Glasgow Rugby, Giulio De Santis (It); Sale Sharks v Bourgoin, Nigel Williams (Wal); Montferrand v Swansea, Donal Courtney (Ire); Leinster Lions v Bristol Shoguns, Rob Dickson (Sco); Toulouse v London Irish, Nigel Whitehouse (Wal); Edinburgh Rugby v Newport, Didier Mene (Fra); Cardiff v Biarritz Olympique, Chris White (Eng); Northampton Saints v Ulster, Antonio Lombardi (It).

Round Two: October 18th/ 19th/20th - Leicester Tigers v Amatori & Calvisano, Nigel Owens (Wal); Beziers v Neath, Marco Salera (It); Viadana v Gloucester, Simon McDowell (Ire); Munster v Perpignan, Tony Spreadbury (Eng); Glasgow Rugby v Sale Sharks, Didier Mene (Fra); Bourgoin v Llanelli, Iain Ramage (Sco); Bristol Shoguns v Montferrand, Nigel Whitehouse (Wal); Swansea v Leinster, Joel Jutge (Fra); London Irish v Edinburgh Rugby, Antonio Lombardi (It); Newport v Toulouse, Steve Lander (Eng); Ulster v Cardiff, Rob Dickson (Sco); Biarritz Olympique v Northampton Saints, Alain Rolland (Ire).