René Hourquet
{{Short description|French rugby union referee and administrator (1941–2024)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = René Hourquet
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1941|11|15}}
| birth_place = Castres, France
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2024|08|27|1941|11|15}}
| death_place =
| nationality = French
| other_names =
| occupation = Rugby union referee
Administrator
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| office = Treasurer of the French Rugby Federation
| term_start = 2000
| term_end = 2012
}}
René Hourquet (15 November 1941 – 27 August 2024) was a French rugby union referee and administrator.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=27 August 2024|title=L'ancien arbitre international René Hourquet est mort|trans-title= |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/L-ancien-arbitre-international-rene-hourquet-est-mort/1503754|language=French|work=L'Équipe|location= |access-date=27 August 2024}}
Biography
Born in Castres on 15 November 1941, Hourquet officiated his first international rugby union match on 21 December 1980 between Spain and Italy. He refereed two matches at the 1987 Rugby World Cup, two matches at the 1991 Rugby World Cup, and five Five Nations Championship matches between 1980 and 1991. He officiated his final match on 14 October 1991, a World Cup match between Japan and Zimbabwe.{{cite news |last=Palmier|first=Thomas|date=27 August 2024|title=Carnet Noir – Ancien arbitre international, René Hourquet est mort|trans-title= |url=https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2024/08/27/carnet-noir-ancien-arbitre-international-rene-hourquet-est-mort-12161896.php|language=French|work=Rugbyrama|location= |access-date=27 August 2024}} In the final of the 1987–88 French Rugby Union Championship, he replaced another referee in the 54th minute after an injury.{{cite web|url=https://finalesrugby.fr/personnes/hourquet-rene|title=René HOURQUET|work=Finales Rugby|language=French}}
Hourquet served as treasurer of the French Rugby Federation from 2001 to 2012 and was president of the {{ill|Commission centrale des arbitres de rugby à XV|fr}} from 1992 to 2009.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=24 October 2009|title=Lannemezan. René Hourquet a lâché le sifflet|trans-title= |url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2009/10/24/700545-lannemezan-rene-hourquet-a-lache-le-sifflet.html|language=French|work=La Dépêche du Midi|location=Lannemezan|access-date=27 August 2024}}
Hourquet died on 27 August 2024, at the age of 82.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=27 August 2024|title=CARNET NOIR. Rugby : René Hourquet, l’ancien joueur de Lannemezan et ex-patron des arbitres est décédé|trans-title= |url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/2024/08/27/rugby-rene-hourquet-lancien-joueur-de-lannemezan-et-ex-patron-des-arbitres-est-decede-12161793.php|language=French|work=La Dépêche du Midi|location=Lannemezan|access-date=27 August 2024}}