Romain Poite of France will referee the opening match of the new Heineken Champions Cup season when Leinster Rugby begin the defence of their title against Wasps at the RDS Arena on Friday, 12 October live on BT Sport. The experienced Poite is one of 40 referee appointments for Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2018/19 Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup announced today by a selection committee chaired by Joel Jutge, EPCR’s Head of Match Officials. Click HERE for the referee appointments for Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2018/19 Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Ireland’s Andrew Brace will be in the middle for the clash of Bath Rugby and Toulouse at the Recreation Ground on Saturday, 13 October which will be televised live on a free-to-air basis in the UK and Ireland on Channel 4 and Virgin Media. France’s Mathieu Raynal will be in charge when last season’s Premiership winners, Saracens, travel to Glasgow Warriors on Sunday, 14 October, and on the same day, the meeting of TOP 14 holders, Castres Olympique, and Gloucester Rugby at Kingsholm will be refereed by Marius Mitrea of Italy. Jerome Garces of France has been appointed for the Exeter Chiefs and Munster Rugby head-to-head at Sandy Park on Saturday, 13 October, and Wales’ Ben Whitehouse will be in the middle for the Pool 5 confrontation at Stade Mayol between RC Toulon and Newcastle Falcons, who are returning to Europe’s top flight for the first time since 2005. Heineken Champions Cup newcomers, Lyon, will open their campaign against last season’s Challenge Cup winners, Cardiff Blues, on Sunday, 14 October at the Matmut Stadium de Gerland where JP Doyle of the RFU will be in charge. Ireland’s Joy Neville will referee the Challenge Cup kick-off between Perpignan and the Sale Sharks at Stade Aimé Giral on Friday, 12 October. The 40 clubs in the tournaments have qualified on merit through their performances in the continent’s three leading professional leagues or from the Continental Shield. The Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup silverware will be decided in Newcastle when the historic St James’ Park stages the finals on 10 and 11 May 2019.