Referees: Wayne Barnes and Andrew Brace given the finals

Wayne Barnes will referee his tenth Premiership Final this weekend, while Andrew Brace of Ireland will head to Cape Town for the United Rugby Championship Final.

Barnes officiated his 250th match earlier this year, having held the record for highest number of Premiership matches for five years now.

He will be supported by Luke Pearce and Christophe Ridley as his assistants, while Tom Foley will be TMO and Eric Bullion timekeeper.

Brace, who also refereed last year’s Pro14 Final between Ulster and Leinster, will have an unenviable task in Cape Town for the United Rugby Championship Final between the Stormers and Bulls, as an outsider.

Already South Africa’s press has been asking the question of why Brace was chosen over local referees such as Jaco Peyper (one of Brace’s assistants, the other is AJ Jacobs), when there has been so much debate about European interpretations.

But the Irishman with the quiet voice and steely demeanour will be tasked with keeping his cool as Cape Town witnesses its first major final outside of the Currie Cup.

Marius van der Westhuizen, who was thrust uncomfortably into the spotlight during last year’s second British and Irish Lions Test, will be TMO for the game.