Alain Rolland named World Rugby referees' chief

Alain Rolland named World Rugby referees' chief

Irish former international referee Alain Rolland has been appointed as World Rugby's 'High Performance 15s Match Officials' Manager'.
He replaces Joël Jutge, who decided to stand down after four successful years in the role.

During an illustrious international career that started in 2001, Rolland refereed a total of 66 tests, including two Rugby World Cup quarter-finals (2003 and 2007), one semi-final (2011) and the 2007 final between England and South Africa in Paris.
A former scrum-half, who was capped three times for Ireland, Rolland also took charge of three European Cup finals (in 2004, 2013 and 2014) while his final international was the RBS Six Nations 2014 clash between Wales and France in Cardiff.

Since retiring as an active referee, Rolland has been working closely with the competitions and performance department of World Rugby as a consultant and, during Rugby World Cup 2015, assisted tier two teams in identifying ways to reduce unforced errors, successfully ensuring an improvement in those teams' on-field discipline and contributing to the most competitive Rugby World Cup ever.
He has also been involved in the training and development of television match officials coming through to the top end of the game.
Rolland, who will take up the role on 4 April, said: "This is a hugely exciting opportunity to stay involved in our great game and I am looking forward to it immensely.
"It will be an honour and a privilege to work with the world's best referees while also being involved in identifying and coaching the top younger match officials who will be the Rugby World Cup referees of the future.”
Chairman of the World Rugby Match Officials Selection Panel John Jeffrey said: "We are delighted to announce Alain's appointment to this important and challenging role. As a referee, he was consistently one of the best in the world for many years, showing a deep understanding of and empathy for the game.

"Since then, he has stayed involved and has worked as a consultant for World Rugby and a number of member unions, applying that knowledge and experience to coaching and developing the next crop of elite match officials.

"Joël has done a great job in this role over the past four years and I am sure Alain will build on that progress as we continue to improve refereeing standards and consistency at the highest level.”


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That's better, thanks mods.

This is a good appointmenment I feel. Rolland has proven himself to be a top ref over the years. I'd be interested to see how having an NH ref in charge changes things, if at all? There seems to be a difference in refereeing between the North and the South, so would a North ref influence SH practice at all? Not sure really. Consistency across the world would be great, but not easily achieved I guess.

Well, Mods I hope you will be all over, I expect all accusations and references of Irish conspiracies to undo Welsh rugby to be removed in future.

Griff, Joël Jutge is French and has been in charge for the last 4 years.

I knew he was in charge but thought he was South African.

Sin é wrote:Well, Mods I hope you will be all over, I expect all accusations and references of Irish conspiracies to undo Welsh rugby to be removed in future.

Griff, Joël Jutge is French and has been in charge for the last 4 years.

You can't post a snide dig like you did on this thread and at the same time whinge about Chunky and Phil doing the same on the other threads. Your comment was a blatant WUM. Leaving it on would have deflected away from a (potentially) decent thread.

Sin - I'll PM you. Let's not have another thread ruined.

Griff wrote:

Sin é wrote:Well, Mods I hope you will be all over, I expect all accusations and references of Irish conspiracies to undo Welsh rugby to be removed in future.

Griff, Joël Jutge is French and has been in charge for the last 4 years.

You can't post a snide dig like you did on this thread and at the same time whinge about Chunky and Phil doing the same on the other threads. Your comment was a blatant WUM. Leaving it on would have deflected away from a (potentially) decent thread.

I don't whinge about Chunky or Phil. I'm quite amused by them actually.

Sin é wrote:

Griff wrote:

Sin é wrote:Well, Mods I hope you will be all over, I expect all accusations and references of Irish conspiracies to undo Welsh rugby to be removed in future.

Griff, Joël Jutge is French and has been in charge for the last 4 years.

You can't post a snide dig like you did on this thread and at the same time whinge about Chunky and Phil doing the same on the other threads. Your comment was a blatant WUM. Leaving it on would have deflected away from a (potentially) decent thread.

I don't whinge about Chunky or Phil. I'm quite amused by them actually.

OK, I'll reword. Whinge about accusations and references of Irish conspiracies to undo Welsh rugby.

The very best Irish ref of them all no issues with this. Competent and consistent. Gutting with the Warburton decision, but if he's helping out with the development of world referees it's a positive.

Griff wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Griff wrote:

Sin é wrote:Well, Mods I hope you will be all over, I expect all accusations and references of Irish conspiracies to undo Welsh rugby to be removed in future.

Griff, Joël Jutge is French and has been in charge for the last 4 years.

You can't post a snide dig like you did on this thread and at the same time whinge about Chunky and Phil doing the same on the other threads. Your comment was a blatant WUM. Leaving it on would have deflected away from a (potentially) decent thread.

I don't whinge about Chunky or Phil. I'm quite amused by them actually.

OK, I'll reword. Whinge about accusations and references of Irish conspiracies to undo Welsh rugby.

Griff - there are many ways in which threads descend into bickering, and one of them is calling people out as WUMs. A report was raised and it was actioned.

Can we just leave this and focus on the thread?

If he can get all refs to be consistent, regardless of interpretation that would be me happy

Good on him

I think he'll be a good appointment. I was thinking the other day I wish he was still reffing.

Ha! Ha! Hee! Hee! The Bogeyman conspires (in French) to get himself elected on Our behalf............... the French basterde! What a codger, he is.

There'll be champagne thrown in the waste bins all over Europe (and further afield) on hearing the splendid news.

France will be happy.

I can see the fortunes of France now turn..... who knows, maybe even by next weekend as Alain insists on tightening up on the law against White shirts competing for the ball. More cards to be shown when that colour attempts a turnover. Good show too!