Perrett making history in Melbourne

Australia’s top female referee, Amy Perrett will make history when she picks up the Assistant Referees flag at this weekend’s clash between the Melbourne Rebels and the DHL Stormers in Melbourne, becoming the first woman in the history of Vodacom Super Rugby to do so.

Perrett is a product of the ARU’s Referee Pathways program and recently was announced as one of Australia’s two officiating representatives at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

ARU Head of Referees Scott Young: “We are immensely proud of Amy’s efforts to make her Super Rugby debut this weekend.

“The fact that she is making SANZAAR history is an added bonus as she is well and truly deserving of her position, considering her outstanding professionalism and her desire to constantly improve.

“We hope this will open up a clear pathway for women in our game who want to be a part of Rugby from an officiating capacity knowing that (like Amy) they can make it to the top of our sport.”

Perrett was humbled by the announcement: “I am really proud to be given this honour this weekend and I certainly hope this opens the door for more women to officiate the top level across Rugby.

“I am just focused on doing my job to the best of my ability and will be joining a fantastic team of SANZAAR refs right across Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina who referee Super Rugby week in and week out.”

Amy’s rise to Super Rugby has been benefited by her coming on as a full time professional referee sharing her time between Australian Rugby and NSW Rugby in early 2016.

No stranger to big match pressure, Perrett has previously refereed Finals of Women’s Sevens tournaments, the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final and the Women’s Six Nations major derby between England and France.

The match takes place this Saturday July 2 at AAMI Park in Melbourne with fellow Australian Angus Gardner the main referee for the match.