Joel Jutge hangs up his whistle

[T.C.B.]

Jutge hangs up his whistle

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:40

France's top referee Joël Jutge has given up the battle against injury and has decided to quit active refereeing and go into administration.

Jutge has been unable to referee since November 2007 when he was having cartilage trouble and underwent a knee operation. After the operation he spent eight months recovering but all was s till not right and he underwent another operation on the same knee. This meant 10 months of recuperation.

He had hoped to be ready but was forced to withdraw from a club match in France and then from, European Challenge match and then from two Six Nations appointments. He was a strong candidate to referee on the Lions' tour to South Africa.

Jutge was honoured by the French government. Roselyne Bachelot, the Minister of Health, Youth Affairs, Sport and Associations, presented him with the medal of a Chevalier of the Order of Merit (Médaille de Chevalier de l'Ordre du Mérite).

Jutge was born in Lavaur on 5 April 1966. He took up refereeing after a top career as a scrumhalf for Colomiers and then Cahors.

He is not lost to rugby as he will join Joël Dumé and will look after the professional sector of French refereeing.

http://www.rugby365.com/news/1736860.htm

Also posted on mf.com

Pity:

[Donny B.]

Good riddance. Arrogant little tw@t! "No hands! No hands!"

[ruck]

Good riddance. Arrogant little tw@t! "No hands! No hands!"

Do you like anybody?

[Darce]

Fantastic referee

[Slipper1]

Fantastic referee

Yep

[Big Deep Blue]

I agree too

[orfeo]

Fantastic referee

Yes, he was.

[leinsterlank]

We can ill afford to lose top referees!!With these young lads coming up, who need to get a lot more experience before they get to the required standard. Get him a wheelchair!

[tackle-bag]

The real problem from an Irish perspective is that two of our own referees are among the best few in world rugby. As such, we don't get the benefit of their wisdom and experience and have to deal with cretins like Steve Walsh (who has thankfully now been sacked, having cost us a Grand Slam), Bryce Lawrence and the Changlengs.