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The FFR and LNR have announced that Romain Poite and Mathieu Raynal are to head up the FFR’s new Professional Referee department.
In the last year, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and the National Rugby League (LNR – owners of the Top 14 and ProD2) collaborated to create a Professional Refereeing Performance Plan, including a multi-million Euro investment package to support match officials.
Poite (pic on left) and Raynal (pic right) begin work on Monday 1 July and will work on a daily basis with match officials in the programme, as well as the LNR and the Clubs to strengthen the quality and performance of refereeing in France.
Romain Poite will lead lead the Technical Unit after is career of nearly 400 professional matches including 72 tests. He retired in 2021 and has since been supporting various Top 14 clubs, finishing with Top 14 semi-finalists, Toulon this season.
Perpignan-born Mathieu Raynal, officiated in eight Guinness Men’s Six Nations, five Rugby Championships and two Men’s Rugby World Cups, including the 2023 edition on home soil in France. He retired from domestic officiating in June and referees his 50th and final international in the summer window when Chile host Scotland.
The Professional Referee Unit has the following objectives:
- Influence on French refereeing: This technical expertise will benefit the entire French refereeing system, thus allowing all French referees to increase their skills.
- Improved links with clubs: Strengthening of exchanges and collaboration with clubs for better preparation and effective debriefing of matches.
- Technical, physical and medical follow-up: Implementation of a rigorous and continuous follow-up to improve the technical, physical and medical preparation of the referees.
- Increased collaboration with international bodies.
The Elite Referee Performance Plan, initiated in July 2023, aims to structure and professionalize refereeing in France by:
- Creating a structure for referees with part-time contracts for better preparation.
- Financial support for referees, including improved remuneration and increased allowances.
- The strengthening of exchanges with clubs through preparation and debriefing platforms.
Jean Marc Lhemet (Vice-President of the FFR with responsibility for the high-level game, medical and match officials), said, “We are very happy to welcome Romain and Mathieu to our technical unit. Their experience and competence are invaluable resources for French rugby. They will contribute to raising the level of refereeing in our country even more, both professionally and in the amateur game.”
René Bouscatel (President of the LNR), “The refereeing performance plan devised by the LNR and the FFR is an innovative plan that contributes to improving the quality of the game and strengthening the performance and influence of French rugby. We are very happy to be able to count on the expertise of two great professionals like Romain Poite and Mathieu Raynal to accompany us in this mission.”