JOY NEVILLE HAS been awarded the World Rugby Referee of the Year award for 2017 in Monaco!
The Limerick native and former Ireland international and Grand Slam winner earned the accolade on the back of an incredible year.
She was one of the first female referees to take charge of a men’s international game, and next month she will become the first woman to referee a European professional club fixture, when she officiates a Challenge Cup clash between Bordeaux-Bègles and Enisei-STM.
Picking up her award, Neville said: "I retired in 2013 after we won the Grand Slam and to think that I'm stood here after refereeing the Women's World Cup Final. Check out her speech below.
