A female referee has officiated a top tier men’s rugby union match in the UK for the first time, BBC report.
Joy Neville, 34, took charge of Ulster’s Pro 14 fixture against Southern Kings on Friday night, at the Kingspan stadium in Belfast.
Neville was named World Rugby Referee of the Year in November, after only turning a professional referee four years ago.
Talking to the media, Neville admitted that she never planned to referee, after her professional playing career ended winning the Grand Slam with Ireland back in 2013.
Neville does have wishes of taking charge of a men’s Six Nations game in the future, however.
To be involved with the Six Nations on the line as an official would be a dream come true. Whether that’s achievable…I don’t know, but I’ll try.
Limerick born Neville is no stranger to refereeing big games, and was recently in charge of the women’s World Cup final between England and New Zealand last year.
A men’s Challenge Cup match between Bordeaux and Enisei in December was also refereed by Neville, the first woman to do so, and it may not be too long until Neville takes charge of more men’s rugby union regularly.
