Europe Picks Jutge
The EPCVR organises the European Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup,
The appointment follows on the resignation from the post of Ireland's Donal Courtney last month. Courtney was the EPCR's first in the position of head of match officials, appointed in 2009. He was a former Test referee and a World rugby referee selector.
Jutge was also an ex-player and a Test referee who went into refereeing administration, blest with fluency in English as well as his French mother tongue. For six years from 2007 he was the French Rugby Federation's referee manager. Then in 2012 he became the IRB's referees' boss in succession to Paddy O'Brien. In December 2015 he announced that he would retire from the job, citing his need to be closer to the family. Travelling took him away from his family a great deal and especially in the month of June, the time of France's midsummer holidays. His retirement became effective in April 2016 and Irishman Alain Rolland was appointed in his place.
But the wheel keeps turning and now the 50-year-old from the small town of Lavaur (pop. 10 400) in Southern France is taking over Europe's referees, a job geographically much smaller than his previous rugby job but of great import in the rugby world. After all eight of World Rugby's 11 elite referees are in Europe.
Jutge had a good playing career as a halfback for Colomiers and in 2001 he became a referee, enjoying a 24-match Test career between 1996 and 2007. He refereed at the World Cups of 2003 and 2007. In fact the last Test he refereed was the World Cup quarterfinal between Argentina and Scotland at the 2007 World Cup. A knee injury precipitated his retirement. He also refereed the 2002 Heineken Cup (now Champions Cup) final, the 2004 Top 14 Final and the 2005 Celtic League (now Pro 12) Final.
Vincent Gaillard, EPCR director general, said: "We are delighted to have secured the services of someone with Joel's expertise and experience in the key area of match officials. He has already earned a reputation as a top administrator with World Rugby and the French Federation and he has a deep understanding of the game at the elite level. He is certain to play a major part in the ongoing development of our tournaments.”
Joel Jutge, who takes up his new post on 1 July 2016, said: "I am really pleased to be joining the team at EPCR at such an exciting time and to have the opportunity of building on the strengths and traditions of the professional club game in Europe. I'm looking forward to working with the clubs, leagues, national federations and referee managers to deliver the best possible match officials programme.”
