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Owens delighted at European final hat-trick honour

Owens delighted at European final hat-trick honour

Top Welsh official Nigel Owens will referee his third consecutive European Rugby Champions Cup final when he takes charge of ASM Clermont Auvergne’s clash with Saracens on May 13.

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Owens will also reach another milestone when he steps out at BT Murrayfield by becoming the first whistler to reach 100 European Cup ties.

Widely regarded as the best referee in world rugby, Owens was the man in the middle for the Champions Cup final in the past two seasons which have seen Toulon and Saracens come out on top.

“It will be a very special occasion reaching 100 games in the European Cup with it being my sixth final. It will be a great honour and I’m really looking ward to the game,” Owens said.

“I refereed the final at BT Murrayfield back 2009 when Leinster won for the first time.

“That was my second final in a row and I could relax a little bit more in that one because of what I’d been through at what was then the Millennium Stadium the year before when Munster beat Toulouse.

“I felt more comfortable and wasn’t as nervous. Everyone said it was a great game and the best thing was, nobody was talking about the referee.”

Owens is rugby’s leading referee having taken charge of more Tests (76) than any other official and been the man in the middle at the 2015 Rugby World Cup final.

On the European front, he leads the way with 109 games in the three major tournaments.

Owens also knows BT Murryafield very well having been the man in charge of the last final played in Edinburgh in 2009 between Leinster Rugby and Leicester Tigers.

The 2017 Champions Cup final will be his sixth in the European Cup and his third in a row, both records for the tournament. He has also controlled two Challenge Cup finals.

Owens has been involved in six Champions Cup games this season and was in charge in Bordeaux when Clermont pipped the home side 9-6 in Round 5 and in Lyon for their 27-22 triumph over Leinster.

He has also refereed Saracens this season, when they beat RC Toulon 10-3 in Round 6, and controlled the semi-final at Twickenham in 2014 when Saracens beat Clermont 46-6.

“After two great semi-finals this season, everyone is looking forward to the final in Edinburgh,” Owens said.

“Saracens and Clermont are both great sides, and there was some great rugby played in the semi-finals in Dublin and Lyon. The final promises to be a fantastic occasion.”

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