Women refs amongst the men
Women referees in Australia are more and more refereeing men's matches. One of them will make history in Queensland on Saturday when she becomes the first woman to referee a top grade men's match in Brisbane.
It has happened in the Shute Shield in Sydney where Amy Perrett referees the match between Sydney University and Gordon on Saturday, her Shute Shield debut though she has frequently been an assistant referee. In New South Wales it has happened before as Amy Perrett follows Roberta Barnett and Sarah Corrigan.
The woman breaking into 1st Grade in Brisbane is 36-year-old former international player Rachel Horton – high school science teacher, microbiologist, Muay Thai fighter and fitness fanatic who- admits she's a control freak.
Rachel Horton is English by birth and played lock (She is 1,83m tall) and No.8 and is a former British Army reservist. She referees the match between Norths and Bond University at Courtney Oval on Saturday.
As part of Australian rugby's push for greater female participation heading towards the 2016 Olympics, Amy Perrett and Rachel Horton are two of four women in the ARU's national squad of 20 referees.
Rachel describes how she started refereeing: "I wanted to do something more individual and less team-based but desperately wanted to stay in rugby. It was either coaching or refereeing but found coaching a high school team really frustrating – I just wanted to run onto the field myself. So I gave refereeing a go … even though I thought I'd hate it.
"I thought I would get a lot of grief when I started refereeing. I thought I would get more being a woman, but I think I get less than the guys.
"You get a few sideways glances when you first turn up but, as soon as it becomes apparent you can do the job, they forget you are a woman."
ARU referees manager Scott Young stressed Horton's promotion was no token appointment, praising her for her game awareness and fitness. Her stature does help in dealing with doubting coaches and players, so too her athleticism.
Rachel Horton, 25-year-old Amy Perrett, Sarah Corrigan of Canberra , who refereed the last Women's World Cup final, and Chyna Howlett will be sideline officials in the third-tier National Rugby Championship, kicking off next month, while Young won't rule out a female referee in Super Rugby.
"Anything is possible," he said.
