The 37-year-old takes charge of his first game at this stage of the competition when Saracens face Munster at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, on Sunday, 27 April (15.00).
The leading Welsh official refereed his second quarter-final last weekend when he was in the middle for Munster’s win over Gloucester Rugby at Kingsholm and was chosen for the crunch semi-final match by an ERC selection Panel of Colin Firth (RFU), Joel Dume (FFR) and the WRU’s own manager of match officials Robert Yeman.
Born in Mynyddcerrig, Owens was appointed as an international referee in 2005 and officiated his first international between Ireland and Japan in Osaka. He made his Rugby World Cup debut in Lyon on September 11th last year for Argentina’s meeting with Georgia and was the only Welshman to referee in the tournament.
While Owens will be making his first last four appearance, Irish official Alain Rolland will be in charge of his fourth tournament semi-final when London Irish meet Toulouse at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday April 26th (15.00).
Rolland, who refereed the 2007 Rugby World Cup final in Paris, was also in quarter-final action last weekend when London Irish beat Perpignan at the Madejski Stadium.
HEINEKEN CUP 2008 SEMI-FINALS (Kick-offs LOCAL time)
Saturday April 26th: LONDON IRISH v TOULOUSE
15.00 – Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham – Alain Rolland (Ireland) – Sky Sports / FR2 / Sky Italia
Sunday April 27th: SARACENS v MUNSTER
15.00 – Ricoh Arena, Coventry (32,000) – Nigel Owens (Wales) – Sky Sports / Canal+ Sport / Sky Italia / RTE**
** Highlights
