As club rugby matches go, they don’t come much bigger than Gloucester versus Bath.

The two West Country rivals meet at Kingsholm on Saturday (3pm) in what is sure to be a fiercely contested Aviva Premiership clash, a clash which will be officiated by Wayne Barnes, one of the most experienced referees in the world.

Barnes will be taking charge for his 198th Premiership game as Gloucester, currently placed sixth in the league, seek a win to break back into the top four.

It is the first of two big appointments back in his home county for Bream-born Barnes over the next 10 days, because the following weekend he hosts his big charity day at Lydney Rugby Club.

That takes place on Sunday 6th May when a Wayne Barnes’ Select XV takes on Dave Emery’s Foresters’ Invitational XV at Regentsholme.

It is an annual extravaganza that raises money for Breast Cancer Now, and if it is anything like last year’s event it will be a roaring success.

Close on 2,000 fans turned up last year and helped to raise more than £15,000.

This year there is sure to be another big crowd to watch the likes of former British Lions Ugo Moyne and Dafydd James roll back the years for Barnes’ XV.

And it’s not just on the pitch that there will be star names, because two-times British Lions coach Warren Gatland will be on the touchline offering words of encouragement to Barnes and his team-mates.

Others who will be on the sidelines include former Gloucester and England hooker Phil Greening and ex-Bristol and England hooker Mark Regan.

The game will kick off at 2pm but before that there will be a host of matches involving junior rugby teams, starting from 10am, and after the rugby has finished, the entertainment will run deep into the evening with bands playing on an outdoor stage.

This is the fifth year that the charity day has been held and Barnes told The Local Answer earlier this month: “It’s getting bigger and better every year.”