Rolland looks forward
Alain Rolland becomes just the fifth referee to referee a Rugby World Cup final when he blows the whistle to start the match between England and South Africa at Stade de France on Saturday evening. And he is excited. He spoke to us about it.
Of course, he is excited. There is not an ambitious referee in the world who would not want to be doing what he is doing. He follows in a line of great referees who have done so – Kerry Fitzgerald of Australia, Derek Bevan of Wales, Ed Morrison of England and Andre Watson of South Africa who did it twice.
Think of the thousands of referees around the world and the thousands of matches that are refereed. This is just one of them and it happens every four years. It is a huge honour.
How did you hear of the appointment? “It was announced at 1700 in the team room where all the referees and selectors were present.
“It was an incredible moment when I heard ‘and the referee for the final is Alain Rolland’. The next 20 minutes were a complete blur!”
There was all the rough and tumble of congratulations, the handshakes, the back slaps and the urgent desire to tell those who count most.
“My first calls went to family and then I rang Owen Doyle.”
In Dublin were his wife Liz, his three children and his mother. His father Henri, a Frenchman, died a few years ago. Owen Doyle is in charge of Irish referees, himself a former Test referee and the man Rolland gives most credit for his advancement as a referee.
Reaction poured in. “It has been incredible, I am totally taken aback with all the txt messages, emails, phone calls and letters that I have received. My wife and my mother have also been bombarded with calls!”
Rolland is a rare bird – a Test referee who played Test rugby. He was capped at scrumhalf for Ireland three times between 1990 and 1995.
Picked for Ireland, appointed to the World Cup final – how do they compare? “I never thought anything could compete with the feeling of being picked for Ireland but it does, I am just as proud and it’s just as emotional.”
His promotion through the ranks has been rapid. In 1995 he was playing for Ireland and Os du Randt was playing for South Africa. On Saturday Rolland will be refereeing and the mighty Os will still be there, playing for South Africa.
This will be Rolland’s second World Cup and he has enjoyed being in France. “The Rugby World Cup has been a great tournament and I have really enjoyed all my matches. All the stadiums have been full of atmosphere and the French people have really been fantastic with the way they have turned out and all the teams have been well supported.”
Speaking French has been a boon to Alain Pierre Colm Rolland, born in Dublin on 22 August 1966. “I’m fluent in French so it has been handy when out with the lads.”
But all the focus now is on the final. “I am very excited about the match. This week I will finalise my preparations for what will be a tremendous occasion and I am really going to enjoy the day!”
And everybody who is sensible will hope devoutly that Rolland has such a perfect day that nobody even notices him, that the players make the decisions about victory and defeat. He is fit enough, fast enough and balanced enough, communicates well enough, understands the game and its players well enough, is experienced enough and, despite all the excitement, brings to the game calm enough to produce the right atmosphere for a great final to the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
