A female referee from Ireland has made history by being included in the list of match officials for the upcoming men’s Rugby World Cup. Joy Neville will be the first woman to referee at the prestigious tournament, which will be held in France in September and October.
Neville has been refereeing rugby for over 20 years and has officiated at a number of high-profile matches, including the Women’s Rugby World Cup final in 2017. She is a highly respected referee and her inclusion in the list of match officials for the men’s Rugby World Cup is a major breakthrough for women in sport.
Neville’s appointment is a sign of the progress that has been made in terms of gender equality in rugby. In recent years, there has been a growing number of women involved in the sport, both as players and referees. Neville’s appointment is a further step towards ensuring that rugby is a sport that is open to everyone, regardless of gender.
The Rugby World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events in the world and Neville’s appointment is a major achievement. She is an inspiration to young girls and women everywhere and her appointment shows that anything is possible if you set your mind to it.
