David McHugh
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name = David Thomas Michael McHugh {{cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/ireland/rugby/player/11860.html|title=David McHugh Ireland|publisher=en.espn.co.uk|accessdate=22 January 2018}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1955|12|21}}
| birth_place = Limerick, Ireland
| school = St Munchin's College
| university =
| height =
| weight =
| ru_position = Scrum-half
| years1 =
| years2 =
| years3 =
| clubs1 = Aer Lingus
| clubs2 = Highfield
| clubs3 = Ballincollig
| apps1 =
| points1 =
| refereeyears1 = 1994–2004
| refereeyears2 = 1994
| refereeyears3 = 1995–2004
| refereeyears4 = 1996–2002
| refereeyears5 = 1995–2003
| refereeyears6 = 1995–2004
| refereeyears7 =
| refereeyears8 =
| refereeyears9 = 2002–2004
| refereecomps1 = Test Matches
| refereecomps2 = → Rugby World Cup qualifier
| refereecomps3 = → Six Nations Championship
| refereecomps4 = → Tri Nations
| refereecomps5 = → Rugby World Cup
| refereecomps6 = Heineken Cup
| refereecomps7 = → 1996 final
| refereecomps8 = → 2001 final
| refereecomps9 = Celtic League
| refereeapps1 = 29
| refereeapps2 =
| refereeapps3 =
| refereeapps4 =
| refereeapps5 = 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.
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.stmunchinscollege.com/about-smc/past-pupils/|title=St Munchin's College Past Pupils|publisher=www.stmunchinscollege.com|accessdate=20 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/mobile/news/15361.php|title=Plenty Of Irish Involvement In Lions Management|publisher=www.irishrugby.ie|accessdate=20 January 2018|date=24 May 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123073033/http://www.irishrugby.ie/mobile/news/15361.php|archive-date=23 January 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/xArchive/Archive/David-McHugh-20030930|title=David McHugh|publisher=www.news24.com|accessdate=21 January 2018|date=1 October 2003}}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/celtic/2179329.stm|title=McHugh to equal record|publisher=news.bbc.co.uk|accessdate=22 January 2018|date=7 August 2002}}{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/former-international-rugby-referee-settles-case-against-irfu-1.3283362|title=Former international rugby referee settles case against IRFU|publisher=www.irishtimes.com|accessdate=20 January 2018|date=7 November 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/other-rugby/former-international-rugby-referee-david-mchugh-resolves-high-court-case-with-irfu-36298421.html|title=Former international rugby referee David McHugh resolves High Court case with IRFU|publisher=www.independent.ie|accessdate=20 January 2018|date=7 November 2017}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/match/22829.html|title=1995 Rugby World Cup Qualifier - Bucharest|publisher=en.espn.co.uk|accessdate=22 January 2018|date=17 September 1994}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/10629.php#.WmUFB6hl_IU|title=McHugh Hails Emerging Irish Referees|publisher=www.irishrugby.ie|accessdate=21 January 2018|date=27 March 2008}}
=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.{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/xArchive/Sport/Rugby/Referee-McHugh-retires-20040226|title=Referee McHugh retires|publisher=www.news24.com|accessdate=21 January 2018|date=26 February 2004}}
=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.{{cite web|url=http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/16851.php|title=The First Heineken Cup Final|publisher=www.epcrugby.com|accessdate=21 January 2018|date=7 January 1996|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022150145/http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/16851.php|archive-date=22 October 2016|url-status=dead}}
=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.{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/20-best-rugby-world-cup-9760214|title=The 20 best Rugby World Cup referees in history... but just where does Welsh number one Nigel Owens rank?|publisher=www.walesonline.co.uk|accessdate=20 January 2018|date=31 July 2015}}
=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.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11722810|title=Flashback: One of the most bizarre incidents in rugby history|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|accessdate=21 January 2018|date=5 October 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/08/12/1028158064422.html|title=Crash tackled ref to sue Bok 'fan'|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=20 January 2018|date=12 August 2002}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/3032751/Unrepentant-attacker-to-contest-match-ban.html|title=Unrepentant attacker to contest match ban|publisher=www.telegraph.co.uk|accessdate=20 January 2018|date=15 August 2002}}{{cite news |title=The rise and rise of Richie McCaw |first=Wynne | last=Gray |date=12 May 2006|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10381356}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2002/sep/10/rugbyunion|title=Springbok fan found guilty of attack on Irish referee|publisher=www.theguardian.com|accessdate=21 January 2018|date=10 September 2002}}{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/fan-fined-for-assault-1.1102815|title=Fan fined for assault|publisher=www.irishtimes.com|accessdate=21 January 2018|date=29 October 2002}}
=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. He also acted as a television match official{{cite web|url=http://www.planetrugby.com/news/match-officials-to-january-16/|title=Match officials to January 16|publisher=www.planetrugby.com|accessdate=21 January 2018|date=11 January 2011}} and as an assessor.{{cite web|url=http://www.planetrugby.com/news/match-officials-to-june-14/|title=Match officials to June 14|publisher=www.planetrugby.com|accessdate=21 January 2018|date=8 June 2009}} However his main role was to work as a referee development officer. McHugh would help recruit and mentor both John Lacey and Joy Neville.{{cite web|url=http://www.limerickpost.ie/2015/10/30/rugby-john-lacey-from-junior-cup-to-world-cup/|title=Rugby – John Lacey, from Junior Cup to World Cup|publisher=www.limerickpost.ie|accessdate=7 January 2018|date=30 October 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/international-rugby/joy-neville-has-been-a-mouldbreaker-all-her-life-36372100.html|title=Joy Neville has been a mould-breaker all her life|publisher=www.independent.ie|accessdate=20 December 2017|date=2 December 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.epcrugby.com/news/33737.php#.Wj06nd9l_IU|title=Joy for Neville as she makes Euro history|publisher=www.epcrugby.com|accessdate=22 December 2017|date=21 October 2016}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/mobile/club/40895.php|title=IRFU Acknowledge Contribution Of David McHugh|publisher=www.irishrugby.ie|accessdate=21 January 2018|date=18 November 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/david-mchugh-rugby-3675050-Nov2017/|title=Referee launches court action against Irish Rugby Football Union over dismissal|publisher=www.thejournal.ie|accessdate=20 January 2018|date=1 November 2017}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{2003 Rugby World Cup referees}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McHugh, David}}
Category:Irish rugby union referees
Category:Irish rugby union players
Category:Rugby union players from Cork (city)
Category:Rugby union players from Limerick (city)
Category:Rugby World Cup referees
Category:The Rugby Championship referees
Category:Six Nations Championship referees
Category:European Rugby Champions Cup referees