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JOY NEVILLE
WORLD RUGBY REFEREE OF THE YEAR

Our congratulations go to Joy Neville who was named as World Rugby’s Referee of the Year at their gala event in Monte Carlo.

Neville, who spent ten year representing Ireland before calling time on her playing career after the 2013 Grand Slam, officiated at the Women’s Rugby World Cup final, refereed a senior men’s international game and became the first women to officiate in a Champions Cup game.

Unfortunately, Sean O’Brien failed to take home the coveted IRPA Try of the Year title. O’Brien set pulses racing in Auckland this summer during the Lions’ 30-15 defeat to the All Blacks when Liam Williams travelled with the ball from well inside his own 22 before O’Brien crashed over the whitewash to score one of the greatest tries for the tourists. However, the public vote deemed that Joaquin Tuculet’s scintillating effort against the England was the worthy winner.