Emilya relishing best of both rugby worlds
RUGBY UNION: There is only one thing Emilya Byrne enjoys as much as playing rugby and that’s picking up the whistle and refereeing a game.
Deciding which to do of a weekend you think might then become a difficult choice, but not for Byrne.
She’s happiest doing both. The 17-year-old Glennie School student is part of a new breed of rugby referees gracing the nation’s sport fields and their arrival is being welcomed by everyone from grass-roots to Australian rugby officials.
Last week Byrne and Toowoomba Grammar School student Thomas Kelk were awarded 2018 Rugby Australia School Referee Scholarships.
They were amongst 27 national scholarship recipients. Eight were from Queensland.
Byrne was the only female student to be awarded this year.
The scholarships are presented to teenagers considered potential front-line referees of the future.
The announcement was part of a big week for Byrne who last Saturday controlled her first senior rugby game.
After playing earlier in the day for USQ in the Downs Rugby women’s sevens competition, Byrne made a quick uniform change before running out to referee the men’s USQ and Toowoomba Rangers Cgrade game.
Byrne cherished the moment as she now sets her sights on climbing further up the refereeing ranks.
“I was a bit nervous and a bit excited about doing my first senior game,” Byrne said.
“But the players were very supportive.
“They were really considerate in their approach to me and we didn’t have any dramas.
“I was very happy with how the day went.”
Byrne is originally from the Roma region where her early sporting days included netball and rugby league.
She played rugby league from eight years of age – including development teams – through to 14 years when girls could no longer play mixed rugby league.
After moving to Toowoomba, Byrne followed her brother and fellow USQ club member Jack into union. Their 13-yearold sister Sally also plays under 13 rugby for USQ.
“Sevens rugby was really growing at the time, especially through players like Emilee Cherry and I was keen to give rugby a go,” Byrne said.
“I was also interested in learning the rules better to help improve my play which eventually led to me taking up refereeing as well.
“My first game was an under 12 game between Goondiwindi and USQ.
“Everyone including my parents and Jeff Kelk who was then referee president have been very encouraging along the way.
“I’d like to keep going as far as I can at a refereeing level.
“I’d also like to do as much as I can in promoting rugby to females and showing younger girls the pathways that are now available to them.”
‘‘ I WAS A BIT NERVOUS AND A BIT EXCITED ABOUT DOING MY FIRST SENIOR GAME. EMILYA BYRNE