IRFU Referees Continue to Progress through the Ranks
IRFU referees continue to progress on both the domestic and international fronts and the National Referee Panels for the 2015/2016 season have been confirmed.
In April of this year George Clancy and John Lacey were announced as part of the 12 member panel that will officiate at the Rugby World Cup in England and Wales.
Former Old Crescent player, and Belgian 7’s and 15’s international, Andy Brace has continued to progress and has gained promotion onto the Guinness Pro12 panel.
Women’s 6 Nations, and World Cup semi-final referee Helen O’Reilly and former Munster Leicester and Connacht scrum half Frank Murphy have both been promoted onto the IRFU’s “A” panel for the forthcoming season.
Former Irish women’s international and 6 Nations Grand Slam winner Joy Neville has been added to the “B” panel, having successfully come through IPAS (Inter Provincial Appointments System).
IRFU Director of Referees, Owen Doyle, commented, “It is pleasing to note the progress of a number of individuals through the system this season. At the international level we continue to be very well represented at the top professional tournaments and there is a strong pipeline of emerging referees who will hopefully also aspire to the very highest levels of the game.”
National Referee Panels: Season 2015/2016
Contracted
Level 1
G. Clancy, J. Lacey, P. Fitzgibbon, D. Phillips
Level 2
A. Brace, D. Wilkinson, G. Conway
Level 3
K. Barry, S. Gallagher, L. Colgan, E. Hogan-O’Connell, N. Correll, M. Patton, S. Gaffikin
A Panel
D. Blake, M. Connolly, P. Haycock, S. Kierans, W. O’Connor, J. Carvill, S. Douglas, O. Hodges, B. MacNeice, H. O’Reilly, D. Collins, J. Erskine, K. Imbusch, F. Murphy, J. Peak, K. Collins, G. Glennon, R. Kerr, B. O’Connell, O. Quinn
B Panel
C. Busby, D. Flood, P. Martin, B. O’Keeffe, G. Sheridan, J. Cairns, C. Harrington, J. Neville, R. O’Sullivan, T. Townend, B. Deighan, C. Hogan, T. O’Donoghue, A. Reavey, R. Watson, G. Finn, D. Horner