Another milestone for women working in men's sport was reached today (Sept. 9) as former Irish Rugby International Joy Neville became the first woman to officiate at a Men's Rugby World Cup game.
The former captain for the women's team served as TMO (Television Match Official) during Italy's 52-8 win over Namibia in Pool A.
In the group stage she is scheduled to take the same role in the England v Japan, France v Namibia, Georgia v Portugal, and Australia v Portugal games.
Neville played for Ireland at the 2006 and 2010 Women's Rugby World Cups and in 2013 was a member of the first Irish women's team to win the Six Nations Championship.
She has also made history before, as the first woman to officiate a professional European men's rugby match, in 2016, and the second to referee a men's international match, in 2017. She was also named World Rugby Referee of the year in 2017.
Neville shared with the New York Times that she's been in preparation for officiating the Men's Rugby World Cup for "months and months" of detailed work.
When asked if being the only woman officiating increases the pressure, she responded:
"I'm there on merit, and I don't want to put too much attention or stress on myself because I am the only one, but certainly I am very aware of the fact that I have a role in that. I have a responsibility to perform in order to ensure that more opportunities come to those who are deserving of them. My priority is to come away with no regrets."
