World Rugby Referee Award Explained

World Rugby Referee Award
Awarded For:	Distinguished long-term service to the game and refereeing
Presenter:	World Rugby
Year:	2001
Holder:	Tappe Henning (2022)

The World Rugby Referee Award (previously called IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service) honours referees with a distinguished long-term service to the game and refereeing.

Recipients

Year	Winner	Refs
2001	Ed Morrison
2002	Colin Hawke	^[1]
2003	Derek Bevan
2004	Jim Fleming
2005	Paddy O'Brien
2006	Peter Marshall
2007	Dick Byres
2008	Andre Watson	^[2]
2009	Francis Palmade	^[3]
2010	Colin High	^[4]
2011	Keith Lawrence
2012	Paul Dobson	^[5]
2013	Michel Lamoulie	^[6]
2014	Bob Francis	^[7] ^[8] ^[9]
2015	Nigel Owens	^[10] ^[11]
2016	Alhambra Nievas Rasta Rasivhenge	^[12]
2017	Joy Neville	^[13]
2018	Angus Gardner	^[14]
2019	Wayne Barnes	^[15]
2021	Andrew Cole	^[16] ^[17]
2022	Tappe Henning	^[18]
2023	David McHugh	^[19]

External links

• World Rugby Awards

Notes and References

1. Web site: Referee Hawke Honoured. 21 December 2021. rugby365.com.
2. Web site: 24 November 2008. IRB Awards - Andre Watson among winners -. 20 December 2021.
3. Web site: Francis Palmade Receives IRB Referee Award For Distinguished Service 2009. 21 December 2021. voxy.co.nz.
4. Web site: Former international referee and Vickers player Colin High dies. 21 December 2021. The Mail.
5. Web site: 17 June 2012. Paul Dobson receives IRB Referee Award 2012 -. 20 December 2021.
6. Web site: 21 June 2013. Lamoulie receives IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service -. 20 December 2021.
7. Web site: 30 June 2014. Distinguished Service Award for Ref Bob Francis - News, Rugby, Sport. 21 December 2021. NZEDGE.
8. Web site: Francis whistles up an IRB award. 21 December 2021. NZ Herald.
9. Web site: 19 June 2014. Francis receives top IRB ref award. 21 December 2021. Stuff.
10. Web site: Rogers. Gareth. 2 November 2015. Nigel Owens wins World Rugby Referee Award at post-World Cup ceremony. 21 December 2021. WalesOnline.
11. Web site: Historic moment awaits Nigel Owens. 21 December 2021. rugby365.com.
12. Web site: 14 November 2016. Nievas and Rasivhenge win Referee Award at World Rugby Awards 2016 -. 20 December 2021.
13. Web site: 26 November 2017. Neville wins World Rugby Referee Award 2017 -. 20 December 2021.
14. Web site: 25 November 2018. Angus Gardner is World Rugby Referee of the Year 2018. 20 December 2021.
15. Web site: 3 November 2019. Wayne Barnes named 2019 World Rugby Referee of the Year -. 20 December 2021.
16. Web site: 6 December 2021. Australia's Andrew Cole receives 2021 World Rugby Referee Award at World Rugby Awards -. 20 December 2021.
17. Web site: Williamson. Nathan. 6 December 2021. Andrew Cole honoured with World Rugby Referee Award. 20 December 2021. rugby.com.au.
18. Web site: 20 November 2022 . Josh van der Flier and Ruahei Demant named World Rugby Players of the Year 2022 . 21 November 2022 . world.rugby.
19. Web site: 29 October 2023 . Ardie Savea named World Rugby Men's Player of the Year 2023 . 1 November 2023 . world.rugby.