The two referees for Connacht’s outstanding Pool Five European Challenge Cup games in January have been named as Kieran Keane’s team look to book their place in the quarter-finals.
Connacht sit on 19 points and any victory in their remaining contests will ensure their place while a bonus point victory will secure a home quarter-final.
FULL-TIME: Connacht 15-8 Worcester
Get in there! Two wins from two in the Challenge Cup thanks to Eoghan Masterson and Matt Healy tries! pic.twitter.com/3E4R5zMo9M
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) October 21, 2017
They travel to the Sixways Stadium on Saturday, 13th January (3pm) to take on second placed Worcester Warriors with France’s Alexandre Ruiz appointed the man in the middle.
Ruiz took charge of Connacht’s Champions Cup loss to Wasps in the Ricoh Arena in December 2016 and he was also the assistant referee in last November when Ireland edged past Fiji 23-20 in the Aviva Stadium.
Seven days later (Saturday, 20th January – 2.30pm), Connacht welcome French outfit Oyonnax in their final pool game and England’s Craig Maxwell-Keys will officiate this clash.
The battle for a home Quarter Final . . .
🏉 Oyonnax
🗓 Sat 20 Jan – 14:30
🎟 https://t.co/gHV60l4BXz pic.twitter.com/F9b6AcUo09— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) December 23, 2017
Connacht have a good record under Maxwell-Keys and he was referee when they made their stirring comeback against Brive a month earlier as they came from 19 points behind to win 38-31 in France with tries for Ultan Dillane, Kieran Marmion, Jack Carty and Cian Kelleher securing the bonus point.
Maxwell-Keys also looked after the 2016 World under 20 semi-final when Ireland beat Argentina 37-7 in a contest that saw Sligo’s Stephen Kerins start at scrum half.
Four points from the two games will ensure Connach’t involvement in April’s knock out stages but two bonus point wins could guarantee another home semi-final should they advance as Keane’s men are currently seeded second behind Edinburgh and ahead of Pau.
The final is scheduled for May 11th in Bilbao.
