Stuart Berry will referee the all-Ireland Pro14 semi-final between Leinster and Munster in Dublin on Saturday.

Berry was one of three South African referees, alongside Quinton Immelman and Cwengile Jadezweni, who officiated in the first season of the expanded Pro14 competition.

His appointment as referee of the highly anticipated Irish derby sees Berry become the first South African match official to be involved in a major playoff match in northern hemisphere club rugby.

Experienced Irishman John Lacey will take charge of the other semi-final, between Glasgow and the Scarlets, on Friday.

‘Stuart has been a very loyal servant to SA Rugby and has been refereeing for more than 15 years. This appointment, in his first year of officiating in the Pro14, is something all of us at SA Rugby are extremely proud of and we would like to wish him well for what promises to be an uncompromising semi-final and Irish derby,’ said Banks Yantolo, SA Rugby’s referee manager.

Greg Garner, the Pro14 referees manager says that like the teams, the officials have also earned the right to be in the semi-finals.

‘I would like to acknowledge Stuart Berry’s achievement in refereeing a final series game in his first season with the Pro14. The South African expansion has been a success, not just with the teams involved but with the addition of match officials such as Stuart to our ranks.’

Photo: Inpho/Sports