There are milestones for Welsh official Ben Whitehouse and Irish official Frank Murphy in the opening weekend of the United Rugby Championship. Whitehouse, who made his debut in 2014 and has gone on to take charge of international fixtures, will make his 75th league appearance while Murphy, the former Connacht and Leicester Tigers scrum-half, makes his 50th league appearance after also holding the whistle for the Rainbow Cup Final in June. All Match Official Appointments for URC Round 1 are below: #### FRIDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER **Zebre v Emirates Lions – KO 17.35 IRE/UK 18.35 ITA/SA** Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 10th league game) AR1: Riccardo Angelucci (FIR), AR2: Federico Boraso (FIR), TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU) Live on: OTT, SuperSport and Premier Sport **Cardiff v Connacht – KO 19.35 IRE/UK 20.35 ITA/SA** Cardiff Arms Park Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 15th league game) AR1: Elgan Williams (WRU), AR2: Steff Edwards (WRU), TMO: Alan Falzone (FIR) Live on: BBC Wales, TG4 and Premier Sport **Ulster v Glasgow – KO 19.35 IRE/UK 20.35 ITA/SA** Kingspan Stadium, Belfast Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 75th league game) AR1: Peter Martin (IRFU), AR2: Andrew Cole (IRFU), TMO: Ian Davies (WRU) Live on: Premier Sport #### SATURDAY 25 SEPTEMBER **Benetton v DHL Stormers – KO 13.00 IRE/UK 14.00 ITA/SA** Stadio Comunable Di Monigo, Treviso Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU, 50th league game) AR1: Federico Vedovelli (FIR), AR2: Alex Frasson (FIR), TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU) Live on: Mediaset, SuperSport and Premier Sport **Leinster v Vodacom Bulls – KO 17.15 IRE/UK 18.15 ITA/SA** Aviva Stadium, Dublin Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 55th league game) AR1: AJ Jacobs (SARU), AR2: Daniel Carson (IRFU), TMO: Neil Paterson (SRU) Live on: TG4, SuperSport and Premier Sport **Edinburgh v Scarlets – KO 17.15 IRE/UK 18.15 ITA/SA** Edinburgh Rugby Stadium Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 67th league game) AR1: Ian Kenny (SRU), AR2: Graeme Ormiston (SRU) TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU) Live on: Premier Sport and S4C **Munster v Cell C Sharks – KO 19.35 IRE/UK 20.35 ITA/SA** Thomond Park, Limerick Referee: Craig Evans (WRU, 23rd league game) AR1: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU), AR2: Dermot Blake (IRFU), TMO: Jon Mason (WRU) Live on: RTÉ, SuperSport and Premier Sport #### SUNDAY 26 SEPTEMBER **Dragons v Ospreys – KO 14.00 IRE/UK 15.00 ITA/SA** Rodney Parade, Newport Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU) AR1: Gwyn Morris (WRU), AR2: Tom Spurrier (WRU), TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU) Live on: Premier Sport
