Landmark Appointment For Neville

Munster’s Joy Neville will make history next month by becoming the first woman to referee a European professional club fixture when she takes charge of the Challenge Cup match between Bordeaux-Bègles and Enisei-STM.

The former Ireland international, who won 70 caps for her country including a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2013, will go into the record books when she referees the Pool 1 game at Stade Chaban-Delmas on Friday, 15 December.

The Limerick woman has already been appointed as an assistant referee at Champions Cup, Challenge Cup, Continental Shield and Guinness PRO14 levels, and she also took charge of the Women’s Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and England in August. In advance of her Challenge Cup debut, she will officiate as an assistant referee at the Barbarians versus Tonga at Thomond Park on Friday, as well as Spain versus Canada and France versus Japan later this month.