Former Ireland Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam winner Joy Neville of Ireland makes history as the first woman to be selected on a Rugby World Cup panel of all-male referees; Neville chosen as one of the seven TMOs; Wayne Barnes, one of 12 referees chosen, for a record fifth World Cup
Joy Neville has made history as the first woman selected on a Rugby World Cup referee panel
Joy Neville has made history as the first woman to be named to a Rugby World Cup male referee panel, having been listed as 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 appointed, including England’s Wayne Barnes quartet, 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 ready to make their debut.
Neville, 39, controlled the 2017 Rugby Women’s World Cup final between England and New Zealand in Belfast.
Barnes has refereed a world record 102 events and will officiate at a fifth consecutive World Cup, having made his tournament debut in 2007, also in France.
Nika Amashukeli becomes the first Georgian to referee at the world event, while Mathieu Raynal is the only French official among the list of 12, following the withdrawals of Jerome Garces, Romain Poite and Pascal Gauzere, who refereed in Japan four years ago. years.
Wayne Barnes will referee in a record fifth World Cup, as one of four Englishmen selected
Raynal drew Australia’s ire last year when he penalized fly-half Bernard Foley for wasting time near his own line in a crucial Rugby Championship test against New Zealand.
The resulting set piece allowed the All Blacks to come back from a 37–34 deficit with two minutes remaining and win the game.
Some former Wallabies described the decision as a disgrace, but Raynal publicly supported their call and was later named French Referee of the Year.
Eight of the 12 referees who took office in Japan four years ago have been retained. The others are Australia’s Nic Berry and Angus Gardner, New Zealand’s Ben O’Keeffe and Paul Williams and South Africa’s Jaco Peyper.
Berry was at the center of a storm during the British & Irish Lions’ 2021 tour to South Africa when he was the subject of an hour-long video critique by Springbok director of rugby union Rassie Erasmus, which was made public and earned the latter a ban.
Rugby World Cup official match panel
Referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Wayne Barnes (England), Nic Berry (Australia), Andrew Brace (Ireland), Matthew Carley (England), Karl Dickson (England), Angus Gardner (Australia), Ben OKeeffe (New Zealand), Luke Pearce (England), Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Mathieu Raynal (France), Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Chris Busby (Ireland), Pierre Brousset (France), James Doleman (New Zealand), Craig Evans (Wales), Andrea Piardi (Italy), Christophe Ridley (England), Jordan Way (Australia)
Television Match Officials: Brett Cronan (Australia), Tom Foley (England), Marius Jonker (South Africa), Brian MacNeice (Ireland), Joy Neville (Ireland), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand), Ben Whitehouse (Wales).
