URC Grand Final Referee will be making unique history in Croke Park

At just 32 years old, Piardi has already etched his name into URC history books. His third straight final appearance underscores a meteoric rise in officiating circles, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down. Piardi ran the whistle down in South Africa for the two latest Grand Finals, as Glasgow Warriors triumphed over the Bulls in Pretoria last year, and Munster won the URC crown in Cape Town against the Stormers to close out the 2023 season.

Piardi's appointment continues a landmark year for the Brescia-born referee, who will also become the first Italian to referee a British & Irish Lions Test when he takes the whistle for the second match of their 2025 tour against Australia next month.

Piardi has featured in nine URC matches this season, bringing his overall tally to 54 league games – a figure that will tick up to 55 when he leads out the sides in front of a packed crowd at Croke Park. While still trailing the legendary Nigel Owens’ record of six league finals, Piardi’s trajectory suggests he could one day challenge that mark.

He’s no stranger to the intensity of knock-out rugby. Over the past four seasons, Piardi has been a fixture in the URC Play-Offs, gaining valuable experience at the sharp end of the competition. Saturday’s appointment is a testament not just to his ability to manage high-stakes contests, but to the growing strength of Italian officiating on the international stage.

Joining Piardi on the officiating team are Mike Adamson and Sam Grove-White – both from the Scottish Rugby Union – as Assistant Referees. Fellow Italian Matteo Liperini will serve as the Television Match Official (TMO). Combined, the quartet brings a wealth of experience, boasting 198 URC matches between them.

A crucial policy of neutrality applies to the Grand Final, meaning no Irish or South African officials could be considered for the game between Leinster and the Bulls – ensuring fairness and impartiality in the competition’s showpiece event.

Croke Park, Dublin, Saturday, June 14 - Kick-off: 17:00 (IRE/UK), 18:00 (ITA/SA)