Ireland’s Joy Neville, a former Ireland Women Six Nations Grand Slam winner, makes history as the first woman to be selected on a men’s Rugby World Cup officiating panel; Neville picked as one of seven TMOs; Wayne Barnes one of 12 referees picked, for a record fifth World Cup
Last Updated: 10/05/23 4:42pm
Joy Neville has made history as the first woman selected on a Rugby World Cup officiating panel
Joy Neville has made history as the first woman to be named on a men’s Rugby World Cup officiating panel, having been included as a TMO for the 2023 tournament in France this autumn.
Neville, a former Ireland international, is named as one of seven TMOs, while 12 referees have been named – including English quartet Wayne Barnes, Matt Carley, Luke Pearce and Karl Dickson, and Ireland’s Andrew Brace.
Barnes and Pearce officiated at the last tournament in Japan four years ago, but Carley, Dickson and Brace are set to make their debuts.
Neville, 39, controlled the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup final between England and New Zealand in Belfast.
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Barnes has refereed a world-record 102 Tests and will officiate in a fifth successive World Cup, having made his tournament bow in 2007 – also in France.
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