Person: Alain Rolland

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

rugby

Citing fear led to Devin Toner’s World Cup omission, Joe Schmidt reveals

The veteran Leinster lock had been one of the cornerstones of Ireland’s successes during Schmidt’s six-year reign as Ireland boss

rugby

How the past Rugby World Cup champions have been crowned

A look back on the eight previous Rugby World Cup finals.

other

Empty words from the top as Hodge goes unpunished

For weeks on end, a veritable posse of law enforcers queued up to hammer the warning home, that dangerous tackles meant instant dismissal.

rugby

New tackle law interpretations are a live and present danger for Japanese World Cup

rugby

Leinster not engaging in blame game after Thomond Park loss

rugby

Michael Cheika to question referee's calls

Player safety being compromised

There’s a moment in the second episode of the superb American football documentary Last Chance U when Brittany Wagner, an athletic academic advisor — yep, it’s a thing — with East Mississippi Community College, exhales dramatically during a tight game with rival college Co-Lin and reckons that she may have just stopped breathing for a full minute.

Fri, 25 Nov, 2016

Player witch-hunt not on, cautions Joe Schmidt

Joe Schmidt believes the intervention of World Rugby referees’ chief Alain Rolland will help prevent a repeat of the controversies that marred Ireland’s rematch with New Zealand last weekend.

Fri, 25 Nov, 2016

Paul O'Connell encourages involvement in rugby refereeing

Former Ireland captain Paul O'Connell has outlined the importance of refereeing in rugby and has urged people to get involved in a bid to "give something back to the game".

Mon, 12 Sep, 2016

Sportsbook round-up: The French rugby player who missed an international cap over a sandwich

All the latest sports book news, including a review of Alain Rolland’s Autobiography - The Whistle Blower.

Thu, 22 Oct, 2015

Censure of Joubert not unprecedented

Despite many claiming that the World Rugby statement about Craig Joubert’s decision at the weekend is unprecedented, it is not the case.

Tue, 20 Oct, 2015

The Alain key to sensible refereeing

Alain Rolland’s refereeing philosophy has been shaped by vast experience. “I often say to academy referees, you’re not there to show the players how well you know the law book: you’re there to show them how well you can use it. That to me is very important.”

Sat, 10 Oct, 2015

Louis Picamoles 'tossed me aside as nonchalantly as a Parisian flicking a Gitanes butt onto the Champs d'Elysees’

France’s No 8 may be comparatively small, but Louis Picamoles has a habit of humiliating those who underestimate him

Fri, 09 Oct, 2015

Ex-referee Alain Rolland fears technology has gone too far

Former international referee Alain Rolland feels technology in rugby has gone too far.

Mon, 12 Jan, 2015

It’s time hookers and props turned stool pigeon

I know nothing. I really don’t. 130 tests later, if you haven’t it all figured you’re dumb, writes Ronan O'Gara. 

Fri, 24 Oct, 2014

Munster hurling officials caught in vicious circle

I only caught up with the Setanta Sports series about referees recently, and it was well worth the effort.

Mon, 04 Aug, 2014

It turns out the men in black are just like us after all

Hard to believe, but it’s 25 years since David Elleray, the Harrow headmaster who spent his Saturdays admonishing a very different class of brat, was wired for sound for ITV’s World In Action programme on a First Division game between Millwall and Arsenal at the old Den.

Fri, 27 Jun, 2014

Jonny provides perfect ending

Toulon 23 Saracens 6

Mon, 26 May, 2014

Standing ovation for Wilkinson as Toulon retain title

Toulon 23 Saracens 6

Sat, 24 May, 2014

Clancy’s rise through ranks leads him to biggest stage of all

There may not be any Irish teams running out in Cardiff later today, but Ireland will be represented by referee Alain Rolland and assistant referee George Clancy in the 19th Heineken Cup final.

Sat, 24 May, 2014

Sarries have Wilko in sights

HEINEKEN CUP FINAL

Fri, 23 May, 2014

Momentum is vital for Reds, says Penney

There may be bigger battles ahead in the culmination of this RaboDirect Pro12 campaign but Munster will close their regular season at home to Ulster this evening intent on maintaining momentum with the play-offs just a week away.

Sat, 10 May, 2014

Varley says fired-up Munster have score to settle against Ulster

It may be a dead rubber in the eyes of some but for Munster’s Damien Varley, Saturday’s clash with Ulster holds plenty of reasons to put on a show at Thomond Park.

Thu, 08 May, 2014

Garces deserves praise, not abuse

They pride themselves up north in getting straight to the point and saying what they think, so let’s not beat about the bush — Jerome Garces got it right.

Mon, 07 Apr, 2014

Cockerill: We gave ourselves too much to do in second-half

Clermont 22 Leicester 16

Mon, 07 Apr, 2014

Clermont record not Tigers’ focus

Leicester captain Ed Slater refuses to cast his Tigers as underdogs when they challenge Clermont’s supremacy at the Stade Marcel Michelin today.

Sat, 05 Apr, 2014

With proper marketing Dublin games could swell GAA coffers

Travelling in to Dublin city centre last Saturday made for an entertaining ride.

Fri, 04 Apr, 2014

Penney: Refs should use us to improve

Rob Penney has called for better communication between coaches and referees, having admitted he has no idea if his obligatory post-match reports on officials ever reach the men in the middle.

Wed, 02 Apr, 2014

Munster and Varley to be right for Toulouse

Munster hooker Damien Varley is confident his injured foot — and indeed Munster’s all round game — will be just fine when the province welcomes European giants Toulouse to Thomond Park for Saturday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final showdown.

Tue, 01 Apr, 2014

Leinster ‘out-cute’ Munster as French tests loom large

Leinster 22 Munster 18

Mon, 31 Mar, 2014

Grunt in abundance, but Munster guile still missing

When news filtered into the press room 30 minutes before kick-off that Peter O’Mahony was a Munster absentee, the odds on a visitors’ success dropped a fathom.

Mon, 31 Mar, 2014

O'Driscoll try disappoints Munster men

Leinster 22 Munster 18

Sat, 29 Mar, 2014

O’Connor keeps it simple: We have to be really good

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Fri, 28 Mar, 2014

Owens to ref Munster tie

Welsh official Nigel Owens will take control of Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final with Toulouse, with tournament organisers ERC appointing England’s Wayne Barnes as referee for Leinster’s trip to Toulon.

Tue, 25 Mar, 2014

Sweeping change for France as seven players swapped

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has made seven changes to his team for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Thu, 06 Mar, 2014

Referee supreme Rolland officially an Ireland great

After the game, Cork Constitution made a presentation to Alain Rolland, and then it was over.

Tue, 04 Mar, 2014

Rampant Wales bounce back

Reigning champions Wales put their RBS 6 Nations title bid back on track with a Millennium Stadium mauling of France that ended Les Bleus’ Grand Slam hopes.

Sat, 22 Feb, 2014

Wales bounce back to crush France

Reigning champions Wales put their RBS 6 Nations title bid back on track with a Millennium Stadium mauling of France that ended Les Bleus’ Grand Slam hopes.

Fri, 21 Feb, 2014

Six Nations role a major honour in my life

An accidental career path brings John Lacey to the Millennium Stadium today.

Sat, 01 Feb, 2014

Kilcoyne reveals Reds braced for backlash

HEINEKEN CUP POOL 6:

Fri, 10 Jan, 2014

Spot-on, Quinnie

Fair play to Alan Quinlan on RTÉ for criticising crucial decisions against Munster by referee Alain Rolland in the Jan 3 game against Ulster at Ravenhill, despite the presenter interrupting.

Fri, 10 Jan, 2014

Hopefuls give Schmidt plenty to ponder

In the end, it was Ulster who got the bragging rights — just.

Sat, 04 Jan, 2014

Ulster take derby win over Munster

Ulster 29 Munster 19

Fri, 03 Jan, 2014

Connacht end losing streak

Connacht 14 Dragons 11

Sat, 21 Dec, 2013

O’Shea praises Quins' team ethic

Harlequins 17 Racing Metro 3

Mon, 16 Dec, 2013

Rolland handed Wales/France farewell game

Irish referee Alain Rolland’s final international before retirement will be a repeat of the infamous 2011 World Cup semi-final between Wales and France when he controversially sent off Sam Warburton.

Wed, 11 Dec, 2013

Leinster claim team of the year hat-trick

Johnny Sexton was not the only recipient at the annual Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Awards, held in Dublin last night.

Tue, 12 Nov, 2013

SA deny Wales victory in ferocious match-up

Wales’ long wait to claim the major southern hemisphere scalp they crave continues – but only after an heroic display in a ferocious Test match of brutal intensity at the Millennium Stadium.

Sat, 09 Nov, 2013

Warburton unfazed by appointment of Rolland as referee

Wales captain Sam Warburton has played down the appointment of Irishman Alain Rolland to referee Saturday’s Millennium Stadium showdown against South Africa.

Wed, 06 Nov, 2013

Rampaging Lawes locks up Ospreys

Northampton 27 Ospreys 16

Mon, 21 Oct, 2013

Puzzles hub