Rolland to referee World Cup final

With every cloud and all that. In a World Cup significantly short of positive Irish stories, Alain Rolland could scarcely conceal his delight last night after it was confirmed earlier in the day he will become the first Irishman to referee a World Cup final, in Stade de France on October 20th.

"It doesn't get any bigger than this. I'm delighted, I'm absolutely thrilled. It hasn't really sunk in yet. I've been working hard over the last few years. I've a lot of work to do in Dublin over the next few days so that will be good, it will keep me distracted, but I'm going to enjoy the next few days."

The 41-year-old former Blackrock, Leinster and Ireland scrumhalf is one of the few part-time referees as such among the game's elite officials, who combines refereeing with his job as a mortgage broker. "There's a lot of people to thank for this. Thanks go out to obviously family, number one, because if you didn't have the backing of your family you wouldn't be able to get away at weekends and maintain the training. To the union, to Owen Doyle and all the support from the IRFU, which has been fantastic, and my employers, Cornmarket. The directors of my company have been great."

South Africa's Jonathan Kaplan will take charge of Saturday's semi-final between France and England while Steve Walsh of New Zealand will referee Sunday's second last-four match-up between South Africa and Argentina, in which Alan Lewis will be one of the touch judges. The referee for the third-place match on Friday, October 19th, will be Paul Honiss of New Zealand.

Rolland also refereed the England-Australia quarter-final and thus is the only official to referee two knock-out matches. "My tournament has gone well, I've enjoyed it and I've been getting good feedback. Myself and Lewey (Alan Lewis) have enjoyed flying the flag and it was great to have two Irish referees doing quarter-finals - that's a first. It's a great honour to be the first Irishman to referee a final."

SEMI-FINAL OFFICIALS

England v France (Saturday): Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (Rsa); Touch judges: Paul Honiss (NZ), Marius Jonker (Rsa); Fourth official: Nigel Owen (Wal); Fifth official: Alain Rolland (Ire); TMO: Stuart Dickinson (Aus).

South Africa v Argentina: (Sunday): Referee: Steve Walsh (NZ); Touch judges: Alan Lewis (Ire), Chris White (Eng); Fourth official: Joel Jutge (Fra); Fifth official: Wayne Barnes (Eng); TMO: Tony Spreadbury (Eng).

Bronze medal match referee: Paul Honiss (NZ); other officials TBA.