The appointments for this weekend’s Guinness PRO14 Final Series games have been confirmed with match officials from three different countries all assigned to some of the biggest games of the season.

On Friday night, John Lacey (IRFU) will hold the whistle for Glasgow Warriors’ much-anticipated Guinness PRO14 Semi-Final clash with defending champions Scarlets. It will be Lacey’s 70th Championship appearance in addition to his wealth of international and European experience.

Lacey will be assisted by Andrew Brace and Frank Murphy while Olly Hodges (all IRFU) will serve as the Television Match Official.

On Saturday afternoon, Stuart Berry (SARU) will create a small piece of history as he becomes the first South African official to referee a knock-out game in the Guinness PRO14 after his appointment to the Leinster Rugby v Munster Rugby Semi-Final.

Berry has the experience of over 30 Super Rugby games before joining the Championship this season and he has quickly established himself among the top group of referees. Berry will be assisted by Ben Whitehouse (WRU), Craig Evans (WRU) with Neil Paterson (SRU) serving as the Television Match Official.

In the Champions Cup Play-Off in Belfast on Sunday, Marius Mitrea (FIR) makes his 78th Championship appearance when Ulster Rugby face Ospreys Rugby. Mitrea is assisted by Mike Adamson (SRU), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR) with Andrew McMenemy (SRU) serving as the Television Match Official.

Speaking about this weekend’s appointments, Greg Garner, Elite Referee Manager, PRO14 Rugby said: “The teams who have earned the right to play in these games have put in a lot of hard work this season and so have all of our officials. Match appointments are competitive in nature as we want to bring out the best in our referees ahead of most important games of the season.

“I would like to congratulate John Lacey and Marius Mitrea on their selections and also acknowledge Stuart Berry’s achievement in refereeing a Final Series game in his first season with the Guinness PRO14. The South African expansion has been a success, not just with the teams involved but with the addition of match officials such as Stuart to our ranks.”

Commenting on Berry’s appointment, Banks Yantolo, SA Rugby’s Referee Manager, said: “Stuart has been a very loyal servant to SA Rugby and has been refereeing for more than 15 years. This appointment, in his first year of officiating in Guinness PRO14, is something all of us at SA Rugby are extremely proud of and we would like to wish him well for what promises to be an uncompromising Semi-Final and Irish derby.”

REFEREE & BROADCAST LISTINGS

Guinness PRO14 Semi-Final | Friday, May 18

Glasgow Warriors v Scarlets

Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)

AR1: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

AR2: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

Sky Sports Action: 19:30

BBC ALBA: 19:35

BBC Wales: 19:30

Sky Sports Action is available on Channel 407

Guinness PRO14 Semi-Final | Saturday, May 19

Leinster Rugby v Munster Rugby

Referee: Stuart Berry (SARU)

AR1: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

AR2: Craig Evans (WRU)

TMO: Neil Paterson (SRU)

Sky Sports Action: 15:00

TG4: 14:50

Guinness PRO14 Champions Cup Play-Off | Sunday, May 20

Ulster Rugby v Ospreys Rugby

Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

AR1: Mike Adamson (SRU)

AR2: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)

BBC2 NI: 14:55

S4C: 15:00