#inspire – celebrating female referee’s in rugby
Lindsay Evans, otherwise known as ‘Lenny’, has been refereeing for 7 years.
She is passionate about rugby and believes that the key to a good ref is being fair – something her husband, Jon, knows all too well after she issued him with a yellow card at a game of his she was reffing!
In collaboration with our partners at ACME Whistles, we met up with Lindsay to chat about her motivation, where her love of rugby started and how reffing is a great way to stay central to the game.
Please tell us about you as a person and your relationship with rugby
As a child, I loved watching my dad play rugby at Plymouth Albion, but growing up in the 70s/80s, girls traditionally played netball and rugby was a sport reserved just for boys.
I started playing to meet people after I first moved away from home. The friends I have made in this sport are friends for life.
A significant neck injury ended my playing days so I coached, but hated the fact I couldn’t be on the pitch. Reffing allowed me to be on the pitch and still be involved in the game I am passionate about even in my 50s.
Please tell us about your first experience as a Match Official
I first reffed an under 14’s match at Darlington RFC – my old club. I didn’t sleep the night before due to nerves and was up at 4am reading and re-reading the laws. I was then sick at half time.
However, I got some positive feedback and was asked to ref them again during the next few seasons. From that point on, I was hooked.
Please tell us about your most memorable officiating moment to date
I had the pleasure of being one of the ARs at The Rec for Bath Rugby Ladies at the double header that day. A huge crowd, a premiership club, fireworks, the match streamed online – it was amazing.
Who inspired you to take up the whistle? How did you get started?
I lost my dad at a young age and I think he would have been very proud of his daughter – not only for playing rugby, but for going on to ref it too.
He instilled in me a drive to be the best version of myself, both on and off the pitch. He is my inspiration, without question, every time I pick up the whistle.
What motivates you to referee?
I am nervous before every match. I prep the night before and read my laws before going out on the pitch. I turn up at the club early and ensure I am ready for whatever happens.
On the pitch, there is a requirement to make decisions quickly when 2 teams and numerous spectators are looking at you to help facilitate a game.
This adrenaline rush motivates me to ref and to give back to a sport which gave me so much.
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
I have worked in education for years and have used the power of sport to promote fitness, mental wellbeing, social skills and develop TREDS (Teamwork • Respect • Enjoyment • Discipline • Sportsmanship), regardless of which ball you play with.
Girls are surrounded by photoshopped ideas of perfection, but rugby is a sport for all – accepting of you and what you bring to the pitch, not what others think you should aspire to look like. Women’s bodies are powerful, strong, resilient and come in all shapes, sizes and ages.
I have just hit 50, having been born in the 70’s, and girls didn’t play rugby, let alone ref it. I am still running around on the pitch with men and women half my age.
I don’t want to inspire females to be like me- I want to inspire women to be their own positive role model in rugby, in reffing, in life.
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/