Owens, now firmly established among the elite referees in the world game, was in the middle when Munster beat ASM Clermont Auvergne and reigning champions London Wasps in home Pool matches.
He was also in charge of Gloucester in their opening Pool game in Ulster, when they ran in five tries in a stunning 32-14 victory. It will be his second quarter-final, having controlled the game between London Wasps and Leinster at Adams Park last season.
The Heineken Cup’s most experienced official, Ireland’s Alan Lewis, will referee the game between Saracens and the Ospreys on Sunday April 6th. He has taken charge of both sides in the Pool stages this season, the Ospreys’ home victory over Gloucester and Saracens’ away triumph in Glasgow.
For Lewis it will be a record breaking seventh Heineken Cup quarter-final and his 61st game in the tournament. England’s Wayne Barnes will make his quarter-final debut in the final game between Toulouse and Cardiff Blues on Sunday April 6th.
Meanwhile, up and coming Welsh official Tim Hayes will referee the opening European Challenge Cup quarter-final when Sale Sharks clash with Brive at Edgeley Park on Friday April 4th. It will be his first game in the knock-out phase of either European tournament.
It means the Welsh referee will be in charge of a match between former European champions as Sale Sharks are chasing a hat-trick of European Challenge Cup titles after lifting the trophy in 2002 and 2005 while Brive won the Heineken Cup in 1997.
HEINEKEN CUP QUARTER-FINALS – (All kick-offs LOCAL times)
SATURDAY 5 APRIL
15.00 London Irish v Perpignan: Alain Rolland (I)
17.30 Gloucester Rugby v Munster: Nigel Owens (W)
SUNDAY 6 APRIL
12.30 Saracens v Ospreys: Alan Lewis (I)
16.00 Toulouse v Cardiff Blues: Wayne Barnes (E)
HEINEKEN CUP SEMI-FINALS (26 / 27 April)
London Irish or Perpignan v Toulouse or Cardiff Blues
Saracens or Ospreys v Gloucester Rugby or Munster
EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP
FRIDAY 4 APRIL
19.30 Sale Sharks v Brive – Tim Hayes (W)
SATURDAY 5 APRIL
14.15 Bath Rugby v Leeds Carnegie – Romain Poite (F)
15.00 Worcester Warriors v Montpellier – George Clancy (I)
20.00 Newcastle Falcons v Castres Olympique – Peter Allan (S)
EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINALS (25 / 26 / 27 April)
Worcester Warriors or Montpellier v Newcastle Falcons or Castres Olympique
Bath Rugby or Leeds Carnegie v Sale Sharks or Brive
