David McHugh

Last updated

David McHugh
Birth nameDavid Thomas Michael McHugh [1]
Date of birth (1955-12-21) 21 December 1955 (age 68)
Place of birth Limerick, Ireland
School St Munchin's College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
19xx–19xx
19xx–19xx
19xx–19xx		 Aer Lingus
Highfield
Ballincollig 		()
Refereeing career
YearsCompetitionApps
1994–2004
1994
1995–2004
1996–2002
1995–2003
1995–2004


2002–2004		 Test Matches
→ Rugby World Cup qualifier
→ Six Nations Championship
→ Tri Nations
→ Rugby World Cup
Heineken Cup
→ 1996 final
→ 2001 final
Celtic League 		29



6

David McHugh is an Irish former rugby union referee. McHugh refereed matches at the 1995, 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cups. In 1996 McHugh refereed the inaugural Heineken Cup final. He would also referee the 2001 final, making him the first referee to take charge of two European Rugby Champions Cup finals. He also refereed in the Celtic League, the Six Nations Championship and the Tri Nations. In 2002, while refereeing a Tri Nations match between South Africa and New Zealand, McHugh was assaulted by a South African fan. After retiring as a referee in 2004, McHugh worked as a referee performance officer and then manager for the Irish Rugby Football Union.

Contents

Early life

McHugh was educated at St Munchin's College and played as a scrum-half for Aer Lingus, Highfield and Ballincollig. Although originally from Limerick, McHugh later settled in Blackrock, Cork. Before becoming a full-time professional referee, McHugh was a fruit importer. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Refereeing career

Early years

McHugh began refereeing in the 1980s. He later recalled taking charge of a schoolboy international between a Wales team featuring Scott Quinnell and an England team captained by Kyran Bracken. McHugh made his senior international debut as a referee on 17 September 1994 when he took charge of a 1995 Rugby World Cup qualifier between Romania and Wales at Dinamo Stadium. [3] [4] [8] [9]

Six Nations Championship

On 18 February 1995 McHugh made his Five Nations Championship debut when he took charge of a match between France and Scotland at the Parc des Princes. On 21 February 2004 he refereed his final Six Nations Championship game when he took charge of the match between England and Scotland at Murrayfield. [3] [10]

Heineken Cup

In 1996 McHugh refereed the inaugural Heineken Cup final between Stade Toulousain and Cardiff. He also refereed the 2001 final between Leicester Tigers and Stade Français, making him the first referee to take charge of two European Rugby Champions Cup finals. [3] [4] [5] [11]

Rugby World Cup

McHugh refereed matches at the 1995, 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cups. He made his Rugby World Cup debut on 3 June 1995 taking charge of a match between Canada and South Africa. McHugh issued three red cards, sending off Canada's Rod Snow and Gareth Rees and South Africa's James Dalton following a brawl. McHugh went onto referee six Rugby World Cup matches over three tournaments. [3] [4] [5] [10] [12]

Tri Nations assault

On 10 August 2002 McHugh was refereeing a Tri Nations match between South Africa and New Zealand at the ABSA Stadium. McHugh had awarded New Zealand a penalty try, after a high tackle on Tana Umaga, and denied South Africa's Breyton Paulse a try after an interference call against James Dalton. These incidents allegedly incited Pieter Van Zyl, a South African supporter, to invade the pitch and tackle and assault McHugh. Van Zyl evaded over four hundred security officials to launch the assault as New Zealand's Justin Marshall was preparing to put the ball into a scrum. New Zealand's Richie McCaw punched Van Zyl and, together with South Africa's AJ Venter, wrestled the assailant off McHugh. Van Zyl was then escorted off the pitch by two security officials. The assault left McHugh with a dislocated shoulder and he had to be replaced as the match referee by Chris White. [13] [14] [15] [16] Van Zyl was subsequently found guilty of assaulting McHugh and fined R10,000 (€1,012). He also received a lifelong ban, preventing him from attending matches organised by the South African Rugby Union. [17] [18]

IRFU

After retiring as a referee, McHugh continued to be employed by the IRFU in various roles. He served as specialist advisor on the 2005 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. [3] He also acted as a television match official [19] and as an assessor. [20] However his main role was to work as a referee development officer. McHugh would help recruit and mentor both John Lacey and Joy Neville. [21] [22] [23] In August 2015 McHugh became the IRFU referee performance manager. This involved coaching and managing the IRFU's elite panel of referees who took charge of matches in the Pro14, the European Rugby Champions Cup and the European Rugby Challenge Cup as well as test matches. On 5 October 2017 his contract with the IRFU was terminated, following an independent review of the referee department. McHugh subsequently took legal action, involving the High Court, against the IRFU, claiming unfair dismissal. However on 7 November 2017 it was announced that the McHugh and the IRFU had reached a settlement. [6] [7] [24] [25]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian O'Driscoll</span> Irish rugby player

Brian Gerard O'Driscoll is an Irish former professional rugby union player. He played at outside centre for the Irish provincial team Leinster and for Ireland. He captained Ireland from 2003 until 2012, and captained the British & Irish Lions for their 2005 tour of New Zealand. He is regarded by critics as one of the greatest rugby players of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronan O'Gara</span> Irish rugby union coach and former player

Ronan John Ross O'Gara is an Irish former rugby union player and current coach. O'Gara played as a fly-half and is Ireland's second most-capped player and second highest points scorer. He is currently head coach of La Rochelle in the French Top 14.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donncha O'Callaghan</span> Rugby player

Donncha O'Callaghan is an Irish retired rugby union player. He spent most of his career with his home province Munster, spending 17 seasons with the province and winning five major trophies, before finishing his career with Worcester Warriors in the English Premiership. Internationally, O'Callaghan represented Ireland and was part of the team that won the Six Nations grand slam in 2009. He also toured with the British & Irish Lions in 2005 and 2009, winning 4 caps, and was invited the play for the Barbarians twice. Throughout his career, O'Callaghan played primarily as a lock, though he occasionally provided cover at blindside flanker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul O'Connell</span> Irish rugby union coach and former player

Paul Jeremiah O'Connell is an Irish former rugby union player and coach. When he stopped playing, he was Ireland's third most-capped player (108) and the eighteenth most-capped international player in rugby union history. During his career, O'Connell captained Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions. He is now the forwards coach for the Ireland national men's team.

David Peter Wallace is an Irish retired rugby union player, who played for Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions. He normally played as an openside flanker, but could also play blindside flanker and number 8.

Denis Patrick Leamy is an Irish former rugby union player who is currently part of the coaching team with Munster. He was a back-row forward who could play either flanker or at number 8, and occasionally played at centre. He ended his club rugby career for Munster in the Pro12 and Heineken Cup, and internationally for Ireland. He officially announced his retirement in May 2012 due to a long-standing hip injury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Sexton</span> Irish rugby union player

Jonathan Jeremiah Sexton is an Irish former professional rugby union player who played as a fly-half and captained the Ireland national team from 2019 until 2023. He also played club rugby for Leinster and Racing 92.

Noel Arthur Augustine Murphy is a former Irish rugby union player who represented Munster, Ireland, the British Lions and the Barbarians as a flanker. He also played club rugby for both Cork Constitution and Garryowen. Since retiring as a player, Murphy has remained involved in rugby union, both as a coach and administrator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donnacha Ryan</span> Irish rugby union player

Donnacha Ryan is an Irish former rugby union player and current coach. Ryan spent most of his career representing his native province Munster, spending 13 seasons at the club, before moving to French club Racing 92 in 2017, where he spent the final four seasons of his playing career before retiring and joining the coaching team at La Rochelle ahead of the 2021–22 season. He played primarily as a lock, but could also play as a flanker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Declan Kidney</span> Irish rugby union player & coach

Declan Kidney is an Irish rugby union coach. He was the head coach of the Ireland national rugby union team from 2008 to 2013, where he won the 2009 Six Nations with a Grand Slam, winning the 2009 IRB Coach of the Year award. He was also the head coach at Munster, leading them to four Heineken Cup finals, winning twice in 2006 and 2008. He was recently Director of Rugby at London Irish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damien Varley</span> Rugby player

Damien Varley is a former Irish rugby union player who represented Munster and Ireland. He played as a hooker. Varley was forced to retire from rugby in February 2015, due to a foot injury.

Donal Gerard Courtney is a former Irish rugby union referee. He served as a referee in the Celtic League, the Heineken Cup, the European Rugby Challenge Cup, the Six Nations Championship and the Tri Nations. Courtney refereed the 2002–03 Parker Pen Shield final. Between 2009 and 2016 he served as the ERC/EPCR match officials performance manager.

Phillip Michael Matthews is a former Ireland rugby union international. He was a member of the Ireland team that won the 1985 Five Nations Championship and the Triple Crown. He represented Ireland at the 1987 and 1991 Rugby World Cups. He also played for both the British and Irish Lions and the Barbarians. He captained both Ireland and the Barbarians. He subsequently served as a rugby union co-commentator with BBC Sport and TV3. Between 2010 and 2016 he served as the President of the National College of Ireland. His daughter, Hannah Matthews, is an Ireland women's field hockey international and played in the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup final.

George Clancy is an Irish rugby union referee. Clancy refereed at the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups. He has also refereed in the Pro14, the European Rugby Champions Cup, the Six Nations Championship and the Rugby Championship. Clancy refereed the 2007 Churchill Cup final and the 2009 and 2011 European Challenge Cup finals. Between 2013 and 2017 Clancy also served as a touch judge/assistant referee at five consecutive European Rugby Champions Cup finals.

James Joseph McCoy, also referred to as J.J. McCoy or Jimmy McCoy, is a former Ireland rugby union international. He was a member of the Ireland team that won the 1985 Five Nations Championship and the Triple Crown. He also represented Ireland at the 1987 Rugby World Cup. While playing for Ireland, McCoy was also a serving Royal Ulster Constabulary officer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kieran Marmion</span> Rugby player

Kieran Marmion is an Irish rugby union player who primarily plays as a scrum-half. Marmion currently plays for English side Bristol Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Lacey (rugby union)</span> Rugby player

John Lacey is a former Ireland A and Ireland Sevens rugby union international and current rugby union referee. As a player, Lacey spent most of career with Shannon in the All-Ireland League. He also represented Munster. As an international referee he has taken charge of matches in the Six Nations Championship, the Rugby Championship and the Rugby World Cup. He also refereed the 2013 Pro12 Grand Final and the 2015–16 and 2016–17 European Rugby Challenge Cup finals.

The history of the Ireland national rugby union team began in 1875, when Ireland played its first international match, a 0–7 loss against England. Ireland has competed in the Six Nations rugby tournament since 1883. Ireland has also competed at the Rugby World Cup every four years since its inception.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Brace</span> Rugby union referee and former player

Andrew Brace is a rugby union referee and former player. Born in Cardiff, Wales, Brace represents the Irish Rugby Football Union as a referee, and was an international player for Belgium. He has refereed matches in the Pro14, the European Rugby Challenge Cup and the European Rugby Champions Cup. In 2017 he began refereeing test matches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joy Neville</span> Irish rugby union footballer and referee

Joy Neville is a former Ireland women's rugby union international and a current rugby union referee. As a player, Neville represented Ireland at both the 2006 and 2010 Women's Rugby World Cups. In 2009 Neville captained the first Ireland team to defeat France. In 2013 she was also a member of the first Ireland women's team to win the Six Nations, Grand Slam and Triple Crown titles.

References

  1. ↑ "David McHugh Ireland". en.espn.co.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  2. ↑ "St Munchin's College Past Pupils". www.stmunchinscollege.com. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Plenty Of Irish Involvement In Lions Management". www.irishrugby.ie. 24 May 2005. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "David McHugh". www.news24.com. 1 October 2003. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 "McHugh to equal record". news.bbc.co.uk. 7 August 2002. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Former international rugby referee settles case against IRFU". www.irishtimes.com. 7 November 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Former international rugby referee David McHugh resolves High Court case with IRFU". www.independent.ie. 7 November 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  8. ↑ "1995 Rugby World Cup Qualifier - Bucharest". en.espn.co.uk. 17 September 1994. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  9. ↑ "McHugh Hails Emerging Irish Referees". www.irishrugby.ie. 27 March 2008. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  10. 1 2 "Referee McHugh retires". www.news24.com. 26 February 2004. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  11. ↑ "The First Heineken Cup Final". www.epcrugby.com. 7 January 1996. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  12. ↑ "The 20 best Rugby World Cup referees in history... but just where does Welsh number one Nigel Owens rank?". www.walesonline.co.uk. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  13. ↑ "Flashback: One of the most bizarre incidents in rugby history". The New Zealand Herald . 5 October 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  14. ↑ "Crash tackled ref to sue Bok 'fan'". The Sydney Morning Herald . 12 August 2002. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  15. ↑ "Unrepentant attacker to contest match ban". www.telegraph.co.uk. 15 August 2002. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  16. ↑ Gray, Wynne (12 May 2006). "The rise and rise of Richie McCaw". The New Zealand Herald .
  17. ↑ "Springbok fan found guilty of attack on Irish referee". www.theguardian.com. 10 September 2002. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  18. ↑ "Fan fined for assault". www.irishtimes.com. 29 October 2002. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  19. ↑ "Match officials to January 16". www.planetrugby.com. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  20. ↑ "Match officials to June 14". www.planetrugby.com. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  21. ↑ "Rugby – John Lacey, from Junior Cup to World Cup". www.limerickpost.ie. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  22. ↑ "Joy Neville has been a mould-breaker all her life". www.independent.ie. 2 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  23. ↑ "Joy for Neville as she makes Euro history". www.epcrugby.com. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  24. ↑ "IRFU Acknowledge Contribution Of David McHugh". www.irishrugby.ie. 18 November 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  25. ↑ "Referee launches court action against Irish Rugby Football Union over dismissal". www.thejournal.ie. 1 November 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.