RateTheRef

Interesting to read that French ref Alexander Ruiz is hanging up his whistle at the end of the season, aged only 34,  to become defence coach to Montpellier.
Find it quite strange. Have seen cases of poacher turned gamekeeper with players/ coaches becoming refs but can’t recall any occasions of it happening the other way round - gamekeeper turned poacher. Maybe RCG with his obvious knowledge might correct me

At a more humble level, Pierre Aylagas of the Comité du Roussillon was a prominent referee in France, circa 1980, though never making it onto the 5 Nations Panel. He, too, took up a coaching role, as RCG suggests at a more local level. More notably, perhaps, he went on to become a politician and member of the Legislative Assembly.

I recall seeing him in action once, in a knockout match at a neutral venue, the Stadium in Valence. After the match I rushed back to the station to catch my traqin back North - and there he was on the opposite platform, waiting for his train back to Perpignan. Obviously a fast mover.