Raynal will take charge of his 50th test match during that international window to become the 13th World Rugby referee to reach the milestone.
As a mark of respect for the Frenchman, World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont has announced that Mathieu Raynal will step down from officiating after the July international window.
During that international window, Raynal will officiate his 50th test match, making him the 13th World Rugby referee to accomplish the feat.
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The 42-year-old will join Romain Poite, Jérôme Garcès, and Pascal Gaüzère as the fourth Frenchman to achieve the milestone.
Raynal, a Perpignan native, has officiated in two Men’s Rugby World Cups, five Rugby Championships, eight Guinness Men’s Six Nations, and one Men’s Rugby World Cup, which will be held in France in 2023.
The 2009 match between Malta and the Netherlands marked Raynals’ test debut. Over the course of two Rugby World Cups, he oversaw seven games, five of which were in France in 2023 and included the quarterfinal match between England and Fiji.
He served as the man in the middle of two Top 14 finals in France and as an assistant referee in three Rugby World Cups (2016, 2021).Reported By APNEWS.
In His Worlds?
Speaking on his upcoming retirement Raynal said “This sport has given me a lot and refereeing it at the highest level for all these years has been a privilege and a great honour.
“After 18 years in the professional game and almost 350 games refereed, the end of the season will be time to bring to an end an activity which I have deeply loved and which has given me unforgettable experiences on pitches all around the world.
“Even if I had the power to do so, I would not change anything in my journey to this point, including, above all, the most difficult moments. Those moments awoke me to the limitless power of courage, fortitude and resilience and they also allowed me to enjoy the good times with even greater relish and intensity.
“I thank my family and my friends, for everything. Thank you to the FFR, to the LNR, the staff at World Rugby, to the players, coaches and my refereeing brothers in arms. The trust, friendship and support which I have received from them during the course of my career are immeasurable and will remain the greatest treasure of my journey.”
Bill Beaumont added “Mathieu is a fantastic referee and should be incredibly proud of what he has achieved at the highest level of the game. We are certainly proud.
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