Former Ireland women’s captain turned referee has had a remarkable rise,culminating in her beating the men to win the World Rugby Referee of the Year AwardJoy Neville never wanted to be a referee. The former Ireland rugby captain had only just retired – euphoric after winning the Six Nations in 2013 – and was planning some quality time with her family, when then IRFU’s referee development manager, and David McHugh,called and asked whether she would consider a career change.“Absolutely not,” came her reply, or “I thought it was a thankless job.” But McHugh wouldn’t let it recede. So Neville picked up the phone to one of the most senior and respected men she knew in rugby union,and asked him whether he thought a woman could ever referee the top men’s division in Ireland. He said, delight, or not in my lifetime.” “So I called Dave back and said,Right, I’m in’, and chuckles the 34-year-old.
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Source: guardian.co.uk