Ireland's Joy Neville will make history this year when she becomes the first female official to participate as a television match official for the Mens Rugby World Cup.
Neville is one of the four Irish officials who will be involved in the tournament, which is scheduled to take place in France between September and October.
A former Grand Slam winner with Ireland in 2013, the expierenced referee has already refereed the Women's Rugby World Cup final in 2017. That game was between England and New Zealand in Belfast.
The other officials from Ireland who will be a part of the tournament are Andrew Brace, who is one of the 12 referees selected for the event, Chris Busby, who will serve as an assistant referee, and Brian MacNeice, who will be performing TMO duties.
4 @irishrugby in the Match Officials for @France2023. Congratulations Andrew Brace, Chris Busby, Brian MacNeice and Joy Neville, who makes more history as the 1st female official at the Men's RWC.
More: https://t.co/4trkisCYl3 pic.twitter.com/jkOhVLWlsh— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) May 10, 2023
The upcoming World Cup is scheduled to take place in France from 8 September to 28 October 2023, in nine venues across the country, and is the first Rugby World Cup to take place entirely in France. Ireland will play the likes of Scotland, South Africa, Romania, and Tonga in their group.
Rugby World Cup match official 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).
