Aurélie Groizeleau: 'You have to realise that referees are still human'
On March 8, it was International Women’s Day. While millions of people marked it in various ways around the world, for French rugby referee Aurélie Groizeleau, it was another day at the office, overseeing the ProD2 match between Colomiers and Mont-de-Marsan.
She has been quietly going about the business of being the first – and so far only – female referee in the country’s second tier, and has her eye firmly on making history by repeating the feat by making the step up to the Top 14.
The 35-year-old La Rochelle native is among the refereeing team for this year’s Women’s Six Nations. She is also a pioneer in her field, and is happy to be seen as a role model for young girls and women in the sport.
“I’m the first woman to have a professional contract with the French Rugby Federation and to have refereed at a World Cup as a central referee,” she said.
“Little by little, things are moving forward, the position of women is progressing. If I take the example of Stéphanie Frappart in football, who is now in Ligue 1 and one of the best referees in the world, it’s true that sport, at least today, is opening its doors.
“I tell myself that, maybe, I’m breaking down doors and that those who come after me will have an easier path to progress in refereeing.”
Groizeleau turned to refereeing in 2009 after an injury ended her playing career. She is into her third season in the ProD2, having worked her way up the ranks, and said overall the reaction to her has been positive.
“Many of my colleagues have supported me and still support me today,” she said. “We’ll never stop people, you know, who are jealous, from criticising me because they might think I got this position because I’m a woman.
“In France that’s not the main criterion – it is to perform well on the pitch and I think that’s what helped me get into ProD2. You can’t referee in the professional sector just by being a woman, it won’t work.”
Colleague and friend Hollie Davidson made headlines this year for becoming the first female assistant referee in a senior men’s Six Nations match. But, while Groizeleau has nothing but admiration for the Scot, she finds inspiration elsewhere.
“For me, Joy Neville was the precursor of women’s refereeing. I admire what Hollie is doing because you have to realise that being the only woman in a group of men like that, it’s not a simple or easy thing to do.”
Naturally, the conversation turns to her own ambitions and the French Top 14, where it appears she still has work to do to be a central referee – though she has been an assistant.
“Today, you really have to dominate the ProD2 to feel comfortable in the top flight. I think I’ve still got some things to learn so that, one day, I will make the grade.”
For the moment, focus turns to the Women’s Six Nations. Groizeleau was in action on the opening weekend in Parma, when Italy welcomed current champions and hot favourites England.
Speaking about her preparations for the tournament, she said: “There’s the physical part, of course, with several training sessions a week. I also talk with a mental coach because refereeing matches in English requires a lot of mental energy. I have to be prepared to deal with that without creating extra fatigue.”
The Women’s Six Nations has drawn increasingly bigger crowds in recent years, potentially opening up the tournament’s refereeing teams to more harassment, both on and off the pitch.
“It’s happened to me,” she said. “In the end, it comes mainly from the public, there is very little from the players or the coaching staff.”
“You get the impression that the public come to the edge of the pitch to let off steam and free themselves from the tensions of their working week. That may be so, but at the same time, they allow themselves certain liberties in what they say, which can sometimes be a bit harsh.”
Groizeleau acknowledges the efforts to stamp out abuse aimed at referees, saying: “We’ve seen a lot of clubs putting out press releases recently on social networks, asking their fans to be much more respectful towards referees and opposing clubs. Because, let’s face it, this is a strong value that has always existed in rugby. It’s a shame that we’re reaching excesses today that we’ve never seen before.
“Some people say it’s an evolution in society. I find that hard to understand. For me, it’s just a mark of respect. We don’t accept other people’s mistakes these days and [fans are] even very hard on their players. You have to realise that referees are still human: that we’re not infallible and that we try to limit mistakes but they can still happen.”
Groizeleau resolutely backs the use of the fourth official and technology to support the referee in the centre of the pitch. “It can really help in situations that are a little dubious or to help clarify things, either to reassure us and say ‘no there’s no problem’, ‘it’s the right decision’, or for me to check something.”
While the support system helps existing referees, the reality is there aren’t enough match officials to go around. According to the latest figures, there is a shortage of around 200 referees in French rugby, though regional ‘discovery’ competitions are trying to engage more teenagers nationwide.
Groizeleau thinks the clubs are also crucial to boosting recruitment. “It’s true that we need people to take up refereeing,” she said. “We need to be closer to the clubs and the game. In other words, we need to stop making referees separate from the pitch.
“If you are involved in your club, it might help to get the message across and encourage other people in the club to take up refereeing. That’s where the human side of passing on your passion to others comes in.”
She may not yet have what it takes to referee in the Top 14 (though it’s only a matter of time), but passion for what she does is one thing the quietly spoken Groizeleau does not lack. She’s fiercely proud of everything she has achieved to date.
“I wanted to pursue a career as a player but couldn’t. I ended up pursuing a career as a referee, experiencing incredible things, travelling the world, meeting lots of people. There are very few of us who can make a living from our passion, so it’s an important thing,” she said.
“I tell myself that I’m not yet at the end of my road and that I’ve still got lots of great things to experience and to share.
“For me, what’s important is that, over and above my personal project, it’s also a family project. It’s important that I have the support of my partner and my daughter, who fully share my passion.”
Groizeleau featured again in the Women’s Six Nations as assistant referee for England vs Wales last weekend, and will take charge of the penultimate-round clash between England and Ireland at Twickenham on 20th April.
Comments on RugbyPass
Some silly trolling in the comments.
8 Go to commentsEverywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
36 Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
11 Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
36 Go to commentsLove watching
1 Go to commentsThe Melbourne Rebels lineout is a complete disaster so not surprisingly a kiwi coach of the Wallabies hires the worst lineout coach in the country and a foreigner to boot. No surprises whatsoever here…….
3 Go to commentsThank your for wasting 2 minutes of my life Daniel. There is a useful message in there somewhere but your delivery sucks.
7 Go to commentsBen Smith, you are cry baby
214 Go to commentsSux that homophobia is still a thing though. I wonder how many players who could have become legends never kept playing rugby because they felt unwelcome.
7 Go to commentsCrazy he’s only 28, feel like he’s been around forever - don’t mind the move, safe pair of hands and creates depth in a thin position for ABs. Hopefully aides Kemara’s growth also without thrusting too much responsibility on him
1 Go to commentsMen should show strength and be mean, but they should be able to show emotion to those close yo them in certain times, birth of your child, death of family, proud moment. This article is stupid
7 Go to commentsWhat a weak article…absolute drivel and clickbait, well done. Will stick to rugby365 thanks
7 Go to commentsHonest, discipline, humility… Priceless.
2 Go to commentsSo many excuses. No mention of the SA number 2 being taken out illegally in the 2nd minute. That act of foul play had a massive impact on the SA game. Face it, NZ play pretty dirty very regularly, and it’s only since 2016 they’ve been held to higher officiating standards via stricter officiating and TMO reviews. They deserved to have a man down. Sorry. Fix the yellow and red cards and NZ will win more RWCs. Plus, there WAS a knock on invalidating the one try, so it was NOT a try. Period. Here’s a Kleenex…
214 Go to commentsOverheard conversation between NZ and SA rugby fans everywhere: We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! We’re the greatest! No we’re the greatest! Ireland are arrogant! True but they beat you! We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! Etc. etc, etc.
36 Go to commentsTypical crap Aussie weather
11 Go to comments“If they’d have beaten England, I still feel we would have been talking ‘is this the best team ever,’ ‘is this the best team that’s ever played in the Six Nations'” he said. “I still think they’re not quite that good. I actually don’t think they’re that good.” So Trimble is saying he doesn’t think this is the best 6N team of all time. He is silent on if it is the best Irish team of all time. Can’t disagree with him. Just another misrepresentative clickbait headline from the guys at RP.
36 Go to commentsWow, do we really still have to listen to all the excuses and “unfairness” of it all. Even blaming the bounce of an egg shaped ball for the loss. But the article is about context, so what about the Springboks having to play the other 5 teams in the top 6 and still beating a comparatively rested AB team on a very empty tank.
214 Go to comments“Teams would generally have three coaches below their head honcho; attack coach, defence coach, forwards coach” do they? I’m not sure what the NZ set up is tbh, but the other 4 sides top 5 sides all have very different structures to the one outlined in the article! As well as attack, defence, and forwards coaches, SA, Ireland, and France also have specialist scrum coaches. England have a specialist scrum coach too, but arguably don’t have a forwards coach, with that role taken on by Borthwick. SA also have a backs coach in addition to defence and attack, and Ireland and England have fitness coaches, with England also having two skills coaches.
3 Go to commentsWorst article I've read in a while. Trying to disguise a backhand slap as a compliment. The whole article is a bit weird and negative. I think South African men are emotional in general… think Clad le Clos’s father 2012 London Olympics.
7 Go to comments