Rugby World Cup referee makes retirement call
Joy Neville refereeing a game.
International referee Joy Neville is set to retire from officiating at the end of the season, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) announced on Monday.
The 40-year-old will take up a new role as a referee development manager in Connacht, which includes working with key provincial personnel to recruit, educate and retain referees to provide for the needs of the game, as well as to develop referees from trainee referees to the national panels.
Neville, who played club rugby for Shannon and UL Bohemians and also represented her home province Munster with distinction, won 70 caps for Ireland, captaining the team during the 2009 Women’s Six Nations Championship.
Six Nations Grand Slam winner
She also led the Ireland women to their inaugural victory over France won a Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam in 2013, and featured in two Women’s Rugby World Cups, in 2006 and 2010.
After retiring, Neville rose through the ranks as a referee and officiated at Champions Cup level as well as the Women’s Rugby World Cup final in 2017, winning the World Rugby Referee Award that same year.
She was also appointed for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in 2021 and a few months ago was named by World Rugby to officiate as a TMO at the Men’s Rugby World Cup in France.
“When I first took up the whistle after my playing career concluded, I could never have imagined the places the game would take me. To be involved in, firstly, the Women’s Rugby World Cup final was a huge honour, and to then progress through to the Men’s Rugby World Cup made me incredibly proud, and it’s only when I look back now that I can truly appreciate those achievements,” Neville said.
“To all those who have helped foster my love of the game to this point, especially all my family, friends and mentors in and outside the game, thank you for your support. Although tinged with sadness as one hugely fulfilling chapter closes in my career, I am delighted that I can continue my career in Irish rugby with such an ambitious group in Connacht. I’m grateful for this opportunity and excited to help develop the next crop of match officials across the province in the new year.”
A pioneer for women’s sport
IRFU performance director David Nucifora said: “On behalf of the IRFU, I would like to thank Joy for her incredible service to Irish rugby. Since her retirement as a player following an illustrious career, she has diligently applied herself to match officiating and steadily rose up the ranks to the highest levels of the game.
“A pioneer for women’s sport in Ireland, it is fitting that she bows out at the top, having recently become the first female match official to officiate at a Men’s Rugby World Cup. I am delighted that Joy has agreed to continue her long and distinguished association with Irish rugby and would like to wish her well in her new role with Connacht.”
IRFU head of referees Dudley Phillips added: “Joy has been an incredible servant to Irish rugby and she can look back on her refereeing career with great pride. As somebody who continues to blaze a trail for young men and women, I am delighted that she will continue to inspire the next generation of match officials in Connacht.”