Watch: Joy Neville becomes the first woman to referee at top level of Irish club rugby

“People aren’t worried if it's a man or a woman - they just want the right decisions to be made.”

Watch: Joy Neville becomes the first woman to referee at top level of Irish club rugby

Joy Neville has became the first female referee to take charge of an Ulster Bank League Division 1A game, writes Stephen Barry.

The former Irish international retired in 2013 after winning the Six Nations Grand Slam but before the end of the year she was back in her boots, as a referee.

In October she became the first woman to officiate in a European game, as assistant referee between Bath and Bristol in the Challenge Cup.

And yesterday Neville achieved a long-held dream by reffing a Division 1A game between last year’s finalists, Cork Con and Clontarf, at Temple Hill.

“I am nearly as ecstatic about doing that as I was when told about the European game,” Neville told the Irish Examiner after hearing the news last month.

“Gender doesn’t come into it. I have never had an issue as a female.

“People just see you as doing a job. They aren’t worried if it's a man or a woman - they just want the right calls and decisions to be made.”

Our videographer David Keane was there to capture the action, with Cork Con the winners, 24-17.

More in this section

Sport

Newsletter

Sign up to our daily sports bulletin, delivered straight to your inbox at 5pm. Subscribers also receive an exclusive email from our sports desk editors every Friday evening looking forward to the weekend's sporting action.

Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited