Former Super Rugby ref to take charge of Pro14 semi-final

South African Stuart Berry has the whistle at the RDS for the all-Ireland clash between Leinster and Munster.

The match is at the RDS Arena in Dublin between Leinster and Munster – a match which could easily have been the final of Europe’s Champions Cup.

This is a most important appointment for Berry who was, surprisingly, dropped from, Super Rugby’s panel.

His career has been resurrected this year when he and Quinton Immelman became Pro14 referees – as the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings joined the European the competition.

This will be the first time a South African has refereed such a match in Northern Hemisphere club competition.

Stuart Berry, who is 35 years of age, was born in Durban and started refereeing when he was still at Hillcrest High School in Durban.

Continue reading below…

He started refereeing Currie Cup matches in 2007, Super Rugby in 2012 and Test rugby in 2013, when the first of his 11 Tests was one between Japan and the All Blacks.

The WRU’s Ben Whitehouse and the SRU’s Mike Adamson will run the touchlines in the match.

John Lacey will take charge of the Guinness PRO14 other semi-final at Scotstoun between Glasgow and Scarlets. He will be assisted by Andrew Brace and Frank Murphy with the IRFU’s Olly Hodges in the TMO seat.

PRO14 Semifinals

Glasgow Warriors vs Scarlets at Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), Frank Murphy (Ireland)
TMO: Ollie Hodges (Ireland)

Leinster vs Munster at RDS Arena
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse, Craig Evans (Wales)
TMO: Neil Paterson (Scotland)