Aurélie Groizeleau facts for kids
Groizeleau officiating in 2021
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| Date of birth | 27 February 1989 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | La Rochelle, France | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 68 kg (150 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Aurélie Groizeleau (born February 27, 1989) is a French rugby union referee. She used to be a rugby player. Since 2018, she has been a referee in international rugby games. As a player, she played five times for the France women's national rugby union team. She also played five times for the France women's national rugby sevens team.
Playing Rugby
Aurélie Groizeleau played for the Blagnac rugby club. She played five games for the French women's national rugby union team. She also played five games for the French women's national rugby sevens team. In 2007, she got a serious injury. This injury made her stop playing rugby when she was 19. Before her injury, Aurélie wanted to play for France in the 2008 Women's Six Nations Championship.
Becoming a Referee
Aurélie started being a referee when she was 21 years old. First, she was an assistant referee. Then, she became a main referee. She began her referee career in the men's Fédérale 2 league. Now, she referees in the men's Fédérale 1 and Top 14 leagues. She also referees in the French women's Premier Division. She also referees Rugby Europe Women's Sevens matches. When she started, she was one of only four fully qualified French female referees. A French male referee named Jérôme Garcès coaches her.
Big Matches and Milestones
In 2016, Aurélie refereed a game between France and England for players under 20. In November 2017, she was an assistant referee for two games. These games were between France and New Zealand. In November 2018, Aurélie refereed her first international rugby game. It was between Italy and South Africa.
Aurélie was chosen to referee at the 2019 Women's Six Nations Championship. Her first game in this competition was in March 2019. It was between England and Italy. At that time, she was one of six female international referees. She was also chosen to be an official for the 2020 Women's Six Nations Championship. She was set to be the main referee for two games and an assistant referee for two games. Later that year, she refereed a game between France and England. This happened after another referee, Joy Neville, got injured. Aurélie was also chosen as an official for the 2021 Women's Six Nations Championship. She refereed two games as the main referee and was an assistant referee for one game.
On September 1, 2021, Aurélie signed a special contract with the French Rugby Federation (FFR). This meant she became a semi-professional referee. That month, she refereed two games in Italy. These games were part of the 2021 Rugby World Cup qualifying European tournament. In October 2021, Aurélie started refereeing in the men's Rugby Pro D2 league.
In May 2022, Aurélie was picked to be a referee for the 2021 Rugby World Cup. This World Cup was delayed until 2022. She was also chosen to be an assistant referee for the 2021 Rugby World Cup Final.
About Her Life
Aurélie Groizeleau is from La Rochelle, France. She now lives in Marans, Charente-Maritime. Besides rugby, Aurélie works as a farmer. She raises almost 7,000 pairs of pigeons at her parents' house. Aurélie spends three hours each week studying English. Her partner is also a rugby assistant referee. He works in the men's Rugby Pro D2 and Fédérale 1 leagues. Aurélie has one daughter.
