Andrea Piardi to Referee URC Grand Final Clash Between Bulls and Glasgow Warriors
June 22, 2023 – The much-anticipated United Rugby Championship (URC) Grand Final between the Bulls and Glasgow Warriors will be officiated by experienced referee Andrea Piardi, the league has confirmed.
Piardi, a 31-year-old from Italy, will take charge of the Loftus Versfeld showdown, having also refereed last year’s URC final between the Stormers and Munster in Cape Town. This marks Piardi’s second successive appearance as the man with the whistle for the league’s coveted championship match.
The Italian official has impressed in recent seasons, featuring regularly in the URC play-offs and making his Six Nations debut earlier this year for the Ireland vs. Wales clash. Piardi was also part of the match officials team for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
Joining Piardi at Loftus Versfeld will be:
- Frank Murphy from the IRFU as assistant referee
- Craig Evans of the WRU as assistant referee
- Matteo Liperini (FIR) as the Television Match Official
The team boasts a combined experience of 188 league games.
“In adherence with the URC’s neutrality policy for Grand Final appointments, no South African or Scottish referees were considered for this weekend’s fixture between the Bulls and Glasgow Warriors.”
The Bulls, ranked third in the league, will take on the fourth-placed Glasgow Warriors in what promises to be a thrilling climax to the 2022/23 URC season. Kickoff is set for 18:00 local time (17:00 BST, 16:00 GMT) on Saturday, June 22, with the match being broadcast live on SuperSport, Premier Sports, RTÉ, Flo Rugby, and URC.tv.
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