An amazing year for former Ireland international Joy Neville has continued to get better, as the Limerick woman was honoured at the World Rugby Awards in Monte Carlo on Sunday night.
Neville started her refereeing career after her retirement following Ireland's Grand Slam win in 2013 and has wasted no time in reaching the top of the tree in terms of officiating as she took charge of the Women's World Cup final earlier this year.
She also made history by becoming the first woman to referee a men's international last month when she officiated Norway vs Denmark.
For these reasons, she was named the World Rugby referee of the year and was given her award by Aussie legend George Gregan.
Congratulations to Joy Neville who has won the World Rugby Referee of the Year award for 2017! #WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/06Y4szuJWL
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 26, 2017
Well done Joy, some deserved recognition after an outstanding year.
Elsewhere, All Blacks flyer Rieko Ioane was named 'breakout player of the year', England's Eddie Jones was named coach of the year, the New Zealand women's team claimed team of the year, and Beauden Barrett was named player of the year for the second year in a row.
