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Irish referee Joy Neville will swap from the women’s World Cup to the men’s edition with a TMO role in France this year.
New Zealand will have four match officials involved at this year’s Rugby World Cup in France, headed by referees Ben O’Keeffe and Paul Williams.
James Doleman has been named as an assistant referee and Brendon Pickerill among the television match officials in a 26-person squad confirmed by World Rugby on Thursday for the tournament in France in September and October.
O’Keeffe, Williams and Pickerill all officiated at the last World Cup in Japan in 2019.
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William Garrard was the first Kiwi to referee a test match way back in 1899 and since then 86 have gone on to officiate at the highest level.
Ireland’s Joy Neville becomes the first female named on the match official panel for a men’s Rugby World Cup with a TMO position.
Neville has refereed at the last two women’s World Cups and been a TMO for the last three men’s Six Nations championships. She has regularly refereed men’s club matches in Europe.
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New Zealand referee Ben O’Keeffe will whistle at his second World Cup.
England’s Wayne Barnes is the senior referee with the most caps at 102 and will officiate at a record fifth World Cup, having made his debut at France 2007.
The appointments for the pool phase matches will be announced after the completion of the Rugby Championship and Rugby World Cup preparation matches.
Referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Wayne Barnes (England), Nic Berry (Australia), Andrew Brace (Ireland), Matthew Carley (England), Karl Dickson (England), Angus Gardner (Australia), Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Luke Pearce (England), Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Mathieu Raynal (France), Paul Williams (New Zealand).
Assistant Referees: Chris Busby (Ireland), Pierre Brousset (France), James Doleman (New Zealand), Craig Evans (Wales), Andrea Piardi (Italy), Christophe Ridley (England), Jordan Way (Australia).
Television Match Officials: Brett Cronan (Australia), Tom Foley (England), Marius Jonker (South Africa), Brian MacNeice (Ireland), Joy Neville (Ireland), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand), Ben Whitehouse (Wales).
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