JOY NEVILLE HAS been named on the refereeing panel for this year’s Rugby World Cup.
The IRFU official is among an all-female team of referees, which will lead an 18-strong contingent of match officials in New Zealand.
Nine referees, five assistant referees and four TMOs, selected from 11 different Unions, will officiate the 26 matches.
Limerick native Neville, who refereed the 2017 Rugby World Cup final on these shores, is selected for her second tournament alongside Aimee Barrett-Theron of South Africa.
“I’d like to congratulate Joy on her appointment to the RWC Referee Panel,” IRFU Head of Referees Dudley Phillips said.
“This will be her second World Cup and having recently returned from maternity leave, it is testament to her drive and hard work that she has been selected.
“Joy has been and continues to be a leader in Women’s rugby as a player and as a referee, and this is a hugely deserved honour.”
Greg McWilliams Ireland will not feature at the tournament, though the nation will be represented on the biggest stage by Neville, who has broken plenty of new ground and etched her name into history time and time again through the years.
The World Cup runs from 8 October to 12 November 12, 2022 — although still under the 2021 title after last year’s postponement — with the women’s edition being staged in the Southern Hemisphere for the first time.
The RWC 2021 Match Officials Team
Referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand), Sara Cox (England), Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Aurélie Groizeleau (France), Lauren Jenner (New Zealand), Clara Munarini (Italy), Amber McLachlan (Australia) and Joy Neville (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Doriane Domenjo (France), Tyler Miller (Australia), Nikki O’Donnell (England), Kat Roche (USA) and Julianne Zussman (Canada)
TMOs: Chris Assmus (Canada), Lee Jeffrey (New Zealand), Ian Tempest (England) and Ben Whitehouse (Wales).
I’m probably going to be panned for this but anyway. I’ve the height of respect for what the Irish women’s team have achieved in recent years. Breaking the English stranglehold on the 6N and winning that Grand Slam, beating NZ in the World Cup and so on.
But is it not bizarre that a woman like Tyrell, even an obviously highly talented one, can take up a completely new sport and make the Irish team within 18 months, an Irish team that we place on a huge pedestal? There’s surely no other sport where you could do that.
She’s obviously well-suited to the game and good luck to her (and the team) but it does make you question the quality that’s there a little bit.
in fairness look at the number of irish rugby internationals who took up rugby late and went on well…… john hayes comes to mind who had a similar start to rugby as Hannah Tyrrell being introduced to the game by friends….i wouldnt say its a massive lack of depth id say shes got the skills and abilities to play rugby for ireland and she did work her way up.
Hi Colm, there’s no question she has the skills and abilities to represent Ireland and, as I said, good luck to her. But you can’t just take up athletics, soccer, swimming, gymnastics, basketball etc and make the Irish team within 18 months. I know women’s rugby is still relatively new in this country and it has to start somewhere so it’s not a slight on her or the team.
It’s true that John Hayes was late taking up rugby but he first played for Bruff in 1992 when he was 18 and first played for Ireland in 2000. He really had to work his way up to get to the top level. I think that’s a completely different scenario in fairness.
The answer to this is the GAA. the basic skills learned in football can be applied to rugby, soccer, Aussie rules, etc… The skills of hurling lead to good golfers, tennis player, hand to eye coordination…. etc.
The “ABC” is what it is all about … A for athleticism, B for balance, and C for Coordination. This is Foundation Level GAA coaching.
Really think that GAA players have a lot to offer in sevens rugby. In particular for youth players, much was said about the size factor in the U20 World Cup but believe that an Irish Youth sevens team would not have that problem and would find an Olympic experience a bigger draw.
Rather than question the fact that you can make such a decision, support the girl. I know you most likely already do but did you ask this same question on every other athlete who switched sports? Anyway I’m not slating in case it sounds that way you’re right to ask :)