Five female referees for Barcelona
The 2002 Women’s Rugby World Cup sees the appointment of official female referees for the first time.
In the last World Cup in Amsterdam in 1998, there were two assistant referees in the shape of Carlyn Warren from Australia and Sarah Stanley of England.Although the duo were given an opportunity to referee one game each, this time around there are five fully-fledged referees.
Stanley returns for her second World Cup and is joined by Canada’s Josy Ferraro, USA’s Grace Gavin, Nicky Inwood of New Zealand and Veronique Dullier of France.
There are also three female assistant referees, England’s Debbie Innes and Georgina Perrott as well as Rachel Allan from Switzerland.
The female contingent wil be boosted by appearances from the more familiar and IRB Panel referees from the men’s game, Joel Jutge of France, Wales’ Nigel Williams and Giulio De Santis of Italy.
The ironically named Andrew Ireland of Scotland, who is yet to make it on to the IRB Panel, will also be refereeing.