World Cup history with first ever female TV official
Raynal only French referee while Joy Neville becomes part of the panel
10 May 2023 - 17:56
by NICK SAID
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Frenchman Mathieu Raynal is his country’s sole representative among the list of 12 referees named for the Rugby World Cup in 2023, and TV match official (TMO) Joy Neville will make history as the first woman to be part of the panel.
Neville has been named among seven TMOs, while Nika Amashukeli becomes the first Georgian to referee at the global showpiece event.
France had four referees in Japan in 2019, but the retirement of Jerome Garces, Romain Poite and Pascal Gauzere leaves Raynal as last man standing.
He raised the ire of Australia in 2022 when he penalised flyhalf Bernard Foley for time-wasting close to his own line in a crucial Rugby Championship test against New Zealand.
The resulting set-piece allowed the All Blacks to overturn a 37-34 deficit with two minutes remaining and win the game.
The decision was described by some former Wallabies as a disgrace, but Raynal publicly stood by his call and was later named French Referee of the Year.
The list of referees for the global showpiece in France includes a quartet of English officials for the first time in Wayne Barnes — appearing at a fifth World Cup — Matthew Carley, Karl Dickson and Luke Pearce.
Eight of the 12 referees who took charge in Japan four years ago have been retained. The others are Australians Nic Berry and Angus Gardner, New Zealanders Ben O’Keeffe and Paul Williams, and South African Jaco Peyper.
Berry was at the centre of a storm during the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA when he was the subject of an hour-long video critique by Springbok director of rugby Rassie Erasmus that was made public and earned the latter a ban.
Rugby World Cup match official panel:
Referees: Nika Amashukeli (Geo), Wayne Barnes (Eng), Nic Berry (Aus), Andrew Brace (Ire), Matthew Carley (Eng), Karl Dickson (Eng), Angus Gardner (Aus), Ben O’Keeffe (NZ), Luke Pearce (Eng), Jaco Peyper (SA), Mathieu Raynal (Fra), Paul Williams (NZ)
Assistant referees: Chris Busby (Ire), Pierre Brousset (Fra), James Doleman (NZ), Craig Evans (Wal), Andrea Piardi (Ita), Christophe Ridley (Eng), Jordan Way (Aus)
TMOs: Brett Cronan (Aus), Tom Foley (Eng), Marius Jonker (SA), Brian MacNeice (Ire), Joy Neville (Ire), Brendon Pickerill (NZ), Ben Whitehouse (Wal) Reuters
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
World Cup history with first ever female TV official
Raynal only French referee while Joy Neville becomes part of the panel
Frenchman Mathieu Raynal is his country’s sole representative among the list of 12 referees named for the Rugby World Cup in 2023, and TV match official (TMO) Joy Neville will make history as the first woman to be part of the panel.
Neville has been named among seven TMOs, while Nika Amashukeli becomes the first Georgian to referee at the global showpiece event.
France had four referees in Japan in 2019, but the retirement of Jerome Garces, Romain Poite and Pascal Gauzere leaves Raynal as last man standing.
He raised the ire of Australia in 2022 when he penalised flyhalf Bernard Foley for time-wasting close to his own line in a crucial Rugby Championship test against New Zealand.
The resulting set-piece allowed the All Blacks to overturn a 37-34 deficit with two minutes remaining and win the game.
The decision was described by some former Wallabies as a disgrace, but Raynal publicly stood by his call and was later named French Referee of the Year.
The list of referees for the global showpiece in France includes a quartet of English officials for the first time in Wayne Barnes — appearing at a fifth World Cup — Matthew Carley, Karl Dickson and Luke Pearce.
Eight of the 12 referees who took charge in Japan four years ago have been retained. The others are Australians Nic Berry and Angus Gardner, New Zealanders Ben O’Keeffe and Paul Williams, and South African Jaco Peyper.
Berry was at the centre of a storm during the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to SA when he was the subject of an hour-long video critique by Springbok director of rugby Rassie Erasmus that was made public and earned the latter a ban.
Rugby World Cup match official panel:
Referees: Nika Amashukeli (Geo), Wayne Barnes (Eng), Nic Berry (Aus), Andrew Brace (Ire), Matthew Carley (Eng), Karl Dickson (Eng), Angus Gardner (Aus), Ben O’Keeffe (NZ), Luke Pearce (Eng), Jaco Peyper (SA), Mathieu Raynal (Fra), Paul Williams (NZ)
Assistant referees: Chris Busby (Ire), Pierre Brousset (Fra), James Doleman (NZ), Craig Evans (Wal), Andrea Piardi (Ita), Christophe Ridley (Eng), Jordan Way (Aus)
TMOs: Brett Cronan (Aus), Tom Foley (Eng), Marius Jonker (SA), Brian MacNeice (Ire), Joy Neville (Ire), Brendon Pickerill (NZ), Ben Whitehouse (Wal) Reuters
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Australia urges World Rugby to tackle officiating concerns
All Blacks leave it late to secure Bledisloe Cup
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.