Amy makes history

Australia's top female referee she has been appointed to the Match in Melbourne between the Rebels and the Stormers.

Amy Perrett is a product of the Australian Rugby Union’s Referee Pathways programme and recently was announced as one of Australia’s two officiating representatives at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

The Australian Rugby Union's head of referees, the former Test referee Scott Young said: “We are immensely proud of Amy’s efforts to make her Super Rugby debut this weekend.

“The fact that she is making SANZAAR history is an added bonus as she is well and truly deserving of her position, considering her outstanding professionalism and her desire to constantly improve.

“We hope this will open up a clear pathway for women in our game who want to be a part of rugby from an officiating capacity knowing that, like Amy, they can make it to the top of our sport.”    

Amy Perrett said in reaction to the news: “I am really proud to be given this honour this weekend and I certainly hope this opens the door for more women to officiate the top level across Rugby.

“I am just focused on doing my job to the best of my ability and will be joining a fantastic team of SANZAAR refs right across Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina and Japan who referee Super Rugby week in and week out.”

Amy’s rise to Super Rugby has been benefited by her coming on as a full time professional referee sharing her time between Australian Rugby and NSW Rugby in early 2016.

No stranger to big match pressure, Perrett has previously refereed Finals of Women’s Sevens tournaments, the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final and the Women’s Six Nations major derby between England and France.

Photo credit ARU Media