Irish referee Joy Neville will retire from officiating at the end of the current season and will take up a new role as the new Referee Development Manager in Connacht.
Neville will now work with key provincial personnel to recruit, educate and retain referees to provide for the needs of the game, as well as develop referees from the trainee referee to the national panel.
Joy Neville said: “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.
“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 I am 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.”
Limerick-native Neville's playing career consisted of playing time with Shannon and the UL Bohemians, as well as her home province, Munster.
Joy Neville became a referee after her retirement as a player in 2013 (Picture: Inpho)The famous referee also won 70 caps for Ireland, where she and the team won the 2009 Women's Six Nations Championship, guiding them to their first-ever victory over France.
Neville achieved a Women's Six Nations Grand Slam in 2013 and participated in two Women’s Rugby World Cups in 2006 and 2010.
Having concluded her playing career, the Limerick native climbed the ranks in refereeing, officiating matches across various prestigious events, including the All-Ireland League, World Rugby Sevens Series, URC, EPCR Challenge Cup, and Champions Cup. Her pinnacle moment came in 2017 when she refereed the Women’s Rugby World Cup final and earned the esteemed World Rugby Referee Award in the same year.
In the Rugby World Cup just gone, Neville was the television match official for last year's tournament in France.
IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora added, “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.”
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