VIDEO: Ref makes history in Super Rugby
SPOTLIGHT: Amy Perrett made history Friday by becoming the first woman to referee a men’s Super Rugby game, a move she hopes will open the door to other females.
The Australian took charge of the clash between the Brumbies and Western Force in Canberra after regularly running the sidelines in other Super Rugby AU matches this season.
“I’ve been really fortunate to already achieve a lot, so everything now is all a bit of a bonus, and it’s just a case of taking any opportunity as it arises,” she told rugby.com.au ahead of the game.
Perrett was already the first woman official in Super Rugby, having been appointed assistant referee for a showdown between the Melbourne Rebels and Stormers in 2016.
She officiated the 2014 women’s World Cup final and is a regular at the women’s Six Nations, but is not the first female to control a men’s professional game.
Perrett, a mother, said she hoped her achievements would spur on other women to greater sporting achievements.
“It’s an old cliche, but if you can’t see it, you can’t be it,” she said.
“However, I do hope now that I’ve done it, anyone else can.”
That honour went to Ireland’s Joy Neville, who took charge of a Challenge Cup pool game between France’s Bordeaux-Begles and Russian club Enisei in 2017.
Another top referee is Aimee Barrett-Theron of South Africa. In 2018 Barrett-Theron became the first woman to referee Currie Cup rugby when she refereed the Division 1 match between South Western Districts and the Leopards.
The South African also became the first woman named on the National Panel of SA match officials.
