The whistleblower

The Rugby World Cup was a washout for our national team but referee Alain Roland was there to fly the flag for Ireland at the final. Michael Moynihan spoke to him.

HE WAS that rarity in France: the Irishman who had a good Rugby World Cup. Alain Rolland was one of the most impressive referees at the tournament, and his decisive handling of big games led to the biggest gig of all — the final between England and South Africa.

Was it a dream come true? “For sure. You can’t get any bigger than the Rugby World Cup final. When it was announced two weeks before the day, we’d always said as a group of referees that we’d enjoy the tournament. Okay, a couple of guys would have been disappointed, but it’s like any team selection — there isn’t going to be a position for everyone. For me it was a tremendous few weeks, and the day of the final was extraordinary.”