YOUNG DOWNS REFEREES REWARDED
Scholarship awards for rising talent
RUGBY UNION: Today will mark a milestone occasion for both Emilya Byrne and Darling Downs rugby when Year 12 The Glennie School student makes her senior refereeing debut.
Byrne’s big moment comes at USQ Oval this afternoon when she controls the Downs Rugby C grade match between Saints and Toowoomba Rangers.
It’s the next step on a widening pathway for both Byrne and Year 12 Toowoomba Grammar School student Tom Kelk who have been earmarked as potential front-line national referees.
Both have just been awarded 2018 Rugby Australia School Referee Scholarships.
They are among 27 national scholarship recipients.
Eight of those are from Queensland.
Byrne is the only female student to be awarded this year.
Darling Downs Rugby Referees Association president Scott Lindblom said the scholarship recognition helps provide the springboard for Byrne and Kelk’s elevation to the next level.
“The national scholarships for Year 12 students only recognise the best of the best in Australia. They are not token gestures,” Lindblom said.
“They are reserved for those being targeted for a pathway to further development and intensive coaching to carry them into senior refereeing.”
Byrne tackles her first senior game this week after extensive grounding at junior and teenage level.
“Last year she refereed state teenage carnivals in Brisbane,” Lindblom said.
“She was assistant referee in the 2017 Toowoomba Grammar/Downlands 1st XV.
“Emilya is an active 7s player for Glennie Girls School, USQ ladies sevens and is a regional representative sevens player.”
Wednesday’s scholarship announcement was attended by Rugby Australia Queensland referee development manager Rohan Hoffman.
He later conducted a junior referees course at Downlands College attended by about 30 participants of varying ages.