The Limerick referee has come on leaps and bounds over the past year refereeing some massive tie’s including the Women’s World Cup Final

This Saturday, Joy Neville will take charge between Norway and Denmark in the Conference 2 North competition, but what makes it so unique is the fact it’s the first time a woman has refereed a men’s international fifteen a side rugby match.

The Limerick woman will be joined by Spanish referee Alhambra Nievas for the fixture, which is another milestone included in Neville’s career as an elite referee, adding to accolades such as becoming the first woman to referee a division 1A game in the Ulster Bank League and becoming the first female assistant referee in a European Club game.

Speaking to Sporting Limerick about her appointment for the game, Neville feels the two side’s, whilst not international powerhouse’s of the game, are still very well capable at that level

“I think they’re two countries trying to break into the rugby circles of the more powerful countries. I’ve watched a few of their games to date, and they’re certainly able to play the game quite effectively. I’m looking forward to the experience and obviously honoured and over the moon to get the appointment”

However, she isn’t talking up the occasion too much because she knows it’s so important to first officiate the game as best she cane which will help improve both her and her Spanish colleagues status a huge amount, which in turn will help female referee’s in a male dominant role.

“I think it’s about the job at hand and that’s what myself and my colleague Aly who did the game two weeks prior,just to put a mark on the game and I suppose to open up more pathways for future females to be appointed international men’s fixtures. I think the focus is for me to go out there and be as prepared as possible and do a good job”

The former Irish women’s international has been an official for three years now and  in a few weeks she is set to be assistant referee in France’s Autumn international fixture with Japan, which again just improves her place in International refereeing circles.

On top of all these accolades, the former back row, along with John Lacey, Andy Brace and George Clancy, have been awarded professional contracts by the IRFU. These contracts means the recipients can now totally focus on being ref’s whilst getting expert coaching, analysis and strength and conditioning assistance along the way and the grand slam winning captain admit’s it is a huge help for her.

“It makes a massive difference to the like of myself and the six other lads that had to concentrate on their refereeing and their day to day jobs and at the end of the day I think what most of us were doing was mentally and physically, only capable of only giving both roles 60 or 70% of the 100% because it was travelling every weekend and then back into your day job.”

Travel is a huge aspect of any referee’s life and Neville is no different, having travelled to Swansea two weeks ago, Montpellier last week and now Oslo this weekend as well as having to make the trip back to Cardiff the following weekend, however, now that all the chosen candidate’s don’t have to split their time between their 9 to 5 and refereeing and can give their all to the job at hand.

“The travel hasn’t changed but what has changed is now we don’t have to concentrate on our other career’s and we can concentrate solely at the job in hand and put in adequate preparation and analysis of the games, post game, and do what we need to do midweek before we jet set again”

These new contracts mean the lucky few that have been chosen will get the best possible training physically and tactically meaning the standard of refereeing at the top level that bit better in important fixtures week in week out, which in turn means there will be a lot more accurate decisions made.

“I think the focus now can be put more on the physical preparations as well. I’m breaking into the pro game where a lot of the guy I’m refereeing are extremely fast and the speed of the game is extremely fast too so it’s important to be just as fit as them and as fast as them so I can be at the breakdown first on arrival so I can identify the first offence. That’s down to accuracy and it all comes from being fit enough and keeping up with play. An awful lot of concentration will be now, and had been in the past it’s just a matter of juggling both job and fitness but now there’s an extra concentration on physical fitness”

After the next hectic two week’s the former Irish back rower will return home to be an assistant referee for the Barbarians clash with Tonga on the 10th of November in Thomond Park. You can listen to Joy’s full interview with Raffaele Rocca below.