Pro12 history will be made this weekend, when two players who played in the league, referee a match for the first time.
On Saturday afternoon, former Glasgow Warriors player Mike Adamson will referee Munster's game against Treviso. The Scot has worked predominantly on the Sevens circuit, and officiated at the Olympics this summer.
On Sunday, former Munster and Connacht scrum-half Frank Murphy will take charge of a Pro12 game for the first time. Murphy, who only retired in 2014, will be the man in the middle for Newport-Gwent Dragons against Edinburgh.
Murphy played for Ireland at Under-21 and A levels, but was never capped in a senior international. He did play against the Barbarians in 2008.
The 34-year-old also won a Premiership title with Leicester in 2007. His spell at Leicester came either side of playing for Munster and Connacht.
Adamson and Murphy's promotions is the latest in an attempt by World Rugby to involve former players in the game after they retire. The most famous convert is Glen Jackson. The New Zealander retired in 2010, and has since refereed in the Six Nations and the 2015 World Cup.
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