English referee Wayne Barnes will officiate Leinster's Champions Cup final against Racing 92 at the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao on May 12, tournament organisers have announced.

This will be the second time Barnes has taken charge of the biggest fixture in European club rugby after he refereed Toulouse's 21-19 Heineken Cup final win over Biarritz in 2010.

France's Jérome Garces has been appointed to referee the Challenge Cup final between the Cardiff Blues and Gloucester Rugby again at the San Mamés Stadium on Friday, May 11.

Barnes' assistant referees in Bilbao will be JP Doyle and Tom Foley also of the RFU, while the French duo of Romain Poite and Pascal Gauzère will run the line for Garcès who will be refereeing the Challenge Cup final for a third time.

Champions Cup final - Leinster Rugby v Racing 92

Saturday, 12 May - San Mamés Stadium (17.45).

Referee: Wayne Barnes (Eng); Assistant referees: JP Doyle (Eng), Tom Foley (Eng); TMO: Rowan Kitt (Eng); Citing Commissioner: John Montgomery (Sco).

Challenge Cup final - Cardiff Blues v Gloucester Rugby

Friday, 11 May - San Mamés Stadium (21.00).

Referee: Jérome Garcès (Fra); Assistant referees: Romain Poite (Fra), Pascal Gauzère (Fra); TMO: Philippe Bonhoure (Fra); Citing Commissioner: Maurizio Vancini (Ita).

Subscribe to The Left Wing, Independent.ie's Rugby podcast in association with Laya Healthcare, with Luke Fitzgerald and Will Slattery for the best discussion and analysis each week. From in depth interviews with some of Irish rugby's biggest stars to unmatched insights into the provinces and the national team, The Left Wing has all your rugby needs covered.

Listen and subscribe to The Left Wing on iTunes and Soundcloud

Online Editors