Rugby Australia’s Amy Perrett breaks another glass ceiling this weekend as she becomes the first female appointed to referee a Super Rugby match.
After she became the first to be involved as an AR back in 2016, Amy has become a regular name in the teams of three since. She’s refereed consistently at NRC level in Australia since her return from maternity leave in 2018.
Perrett has been refereeing since she was 13 years old, having been told she could no longer play alongside the boys. Her refereeing career burgeoned as she became a core part of the World 7s series since its inception in 2012. On the XVs side, she refereed the final of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2014. She’s a full time official – referee and development officer – with Rugby Australia, while balancing parental duties for her son Liam.
Speaking about the appointment, Amy said, “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 just taking any opportunity as it arises.” On being the first female, she added, “It’s an old cliché, but if you can’t see it, you casn’t be it. However, I do hope now that I’ve done it, anyone else can.”
She’ll be assisted by an experienced team around her on Friday evening, with Gus Gardner and Reuben Keane on the sides, and fellow debutant Graham Cooper in the TV booth. And then they hot foot it back to Sydney for the other match on Saturday.
Congratulations Amy on your appointment – we wish you well!
Brumbies v Western Force (at GIO Stadium, Canberra)
Friday 28 August, 19:05 local
Referee: Amy Perrett
ARs: Angus Gardner & Reuben Keane
TMO: Graham Cooper
