Romain Poite

Romain Poite (born 14 September 1975)[1] is a French former rugby union international referee. Poite retired in November 2021 after refereeing 72 tests, refereeing the third-most international tests in international rugby behind Nigel Owens (Wales) and Wayne Barnes (England).[2] He made his debut in 2006, and has been a referee at three World Cups (2011, 2015, 2019), including the 2019 Final.

Poite during a Top 14 match, December 2013.
Date of birth (1975-09-14) 14 September 1975
Place of birthRochefort, Charente-Maritime, France
Height181 cm (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Weight82 kg (181 lb)[1]
UniversityToulouse Business School
Occupation(s)
  • Police detective
  • rugby referee
Rugby union career
Refereeing career
Years Competition Apps
2006–2021 Rugby World Cup
2010-2021 Six Nations Championship
2013 The Rugby Championship

He made his World Cup debut as an assistant referee in 2007 during the match between Ireland and Namibia. He also officiated (as touch judge or television match official) during three games in the 2009 Six Nations Championship.[3] He refereed his first Six Nations match in 2010.[4] Poite was appointed to the 10-man elite referees panel for the 2011 Rugby World Cup,[5] where he refereed four matches. He was also appointed to referee the third and deciding Test of the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour against Australia.[6] He was later excluded for a few months from the IRB panel for giving an incorrect yellow card during the 2013 Rugby Championship.[7] Poite famously told the England rugby team "I'm a referee, not a coach", during the 2017 Six Nations Championship match versus Italy.[8] Poite was appointed referee for the third and deciding British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.

Personal life

Poite was born in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, France[9][10] on 14 September 1975.[1] Pointe studied at the Toulouse Business School and became a member of the National Police of France, and later a road safety instructor prior to being a rugby referee.[11]

References
  1. "International Rugby Board biography". Archived from the original on 9 June 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  2. "ROMAIN POITE SET FOR FINAL INTERNATIONAL MATCH REFEREEING APPEARANCE". rugbyworldcup.com. World Rugby. 5 November 2021.
  3. "La Bible du rugby" (in French). Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  4. "Planet Rugby | Rugby Union Tournaments | Six Nations | Six Nations referees appointed". www.planetrugby.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010.
  5. "Poite to ref Heineken Cup Final". espnscrum.com. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  6. "Lions 2013: Romain Poite will be most important man on the pitch | Paul Rees". TheGuardian.com. 5 July 2013.
  7. "Six Nations 2014 : de la Fraîcheur et des Adieux". Esprit de la Règle. 10 December 2013.
  8. "XPLAINED: The brilliant Italian ruck tactics that baffled Eddie Jones' England and were entirely legal". 26 February 2017.
  9. "Romain Poite – ESPN". espn.co.uk. ESPN.
  10. "Romain Poite – Rugby World Cup 2019". rugbyworldcup.com. World Rugby.
  11. "Romain Poite (TBS 2019) – International Rugby Referee". TBS Alumni. 24 April 2020.
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