#inspire – celebrating female referee’s in rugby
Rheanna White has been refereeing for four years.
She grew up watching Clare Daniels and Sara Cox refereeing at her local club and was inspired to take up the whistle.
In collaboration with our partners at ACME Whistles, we met up with Rheanna to chat about her motivation and how much she loves the rugby community she is part of.
Please tell us about you as a person and your relationship with rugby
I have played my whole life, but due to knowing a lot of refs I decided to give refereeing a go myself and I haven’t looked back since.
Please tell us about your first experience as a Match Official
My first game refereeing was an under 12s game for my local club, but I had been 4th official on many occasions for Barnstaple RFC.
Please tell us about your most memorable officiating moment to date
It was refereeing at a development festival for the South West girls under 15s which was the first game I refereed after a break due to COVID.
Who inspired you to take up the whistle? How did you get started?
My mum mainly, but I grew up watching Clare Daniels and Sara Cox, along with many more well-known female referees officiating at my club and they all inspired me to consider taking up the whistle.
What motivates you to referee?
It has massively helped with my confidence and anxiety.
In a few words please tell us what it means to you to be a positive role model and INSPIRE other women and girls to get in to refereeing
Without rugby and the community it creates I wouldn’t be here, and I know many that would say the same. So, if I could help anyone in the same way, it would mean the world to me.
If you’re feeling inspired to take up the whistle, find out more about becoming a Match Official here: keepyourbootson.co.uk/referee-toolkit/supporting-match-officials-female/