International referee Mathieu Raynal has confirmed he will retire from refereeing at the end of the season at the age of 42.
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The news, confirmed by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby via social media, comes after a staggering career spanning 18 years and an impressive tally of 350 matches, including 50 Test matches.
The Frenchman’s illustrious career has seen him at the forefront of the sport, officiating at three World Cups (2015, 2019, and 2023), adding to his accolades two British & Irish Lions series, eleven Six Nations tournaments, and eight Rugby Championships.
Raynal’s expertise has been showcased on the grandest stages, including overseeing two Top 14 finals, cementing his legacy as one of rugby’s most esteemed referees.
“This sport has given me a lot and refereeing at the highest level for all these years has been a privilege and a huge honour,” he said.
“After 18 years at the highest level and almost 350 matches refereed, it is time for me to put an end to a profession that I deeply love and which allowed me to live unique experiences on all grounds around the world.”
How much do Six Nations rugby referees get paid? Is it worth it?
In the high-stakes world of rugby, referees hold the pivotal role of arbitrating the game’s intense battles on the field.
With each whistle blow, their decisions can sway the outcome, making their job one of the toughest in sports.
But what’s the price tag on this responsibility?
Referees’ earnings hinge on their category: rookies, women, or seasoned pros. For those new to the scene, like rookies and female referees, the paycheck typically hovers around £400 per match, summing up to roughly £16k annually.
Yet, it’s the seasoned professionals who rake in the big bucks. For lower-tier clashes, they can pocket a cool £1.2k, while officiating at the main events could fetch them a hefty £2.2k per match, boasting an impressive yearly income of £160k.
However, the spotlight shines even brighter for the illustrious 2024 Six Nations referees, with reports swirling that they’ll command a staggering £5k per game.
Now that’s a payday worth blowing the whistle for!
Day jobs of Six Nations referee’s
1 Ben O’Keeffe – Eye Doctor
Ben O’Keeffe is one of New Zealand’s six full-time rugby referees. Alongside O’Keeffe’s on-field role, which sees him take charge of Super Rugby’s most exciting talents, the 34-year-old is also a fully-qualified ophthalmologist or eye doctor.
Dr Ben specialises in eye health and disease, and he is the Director and Founder of oDocs Eye Care. O’Keeffe established the organisation eight years ago, with the company striving to end preventable blindness through state of the art techniques.
The goal of oDocs is to make eye care more affordable across the globe, with the rugby referee at the heart of the ground-breaking progressions.
