Referee Aimee just laughs off the funny looks
JOHANNESBURG: Not too many South African rugby fans will know the name Aimee Barrett-Theron. They should though, and she has nothing to do with any of the famous Barrett brothers in New Zealand; she is this country’s leading women’s referee and she is breaking ground all the time.
And tomorrow in Welkom, Barrett-Theron will again make history when she handles the SA Rugby Under-20 Championship final between the Griffons and Limpopo Blue Bulls, becoming the first female to referee a national age-group final.
The Cape Town-based biokineticist’s rise through the domestic and international referee ranks has seen her become the first female referee to be included on SA Rugby’s B panel, take charge of an U18 Craven Week match, officiate at the Women’s World Cup in Ireland, the Rio Olympics and on the World Rugby Women’s Sevens circuit, among other achievements in the last two seasons. She has also officiated a men’s match in the Varsity Shield. She said being given the honour of handling a national final is a big step forward for women’s refereeing in SA. “It’s a big highlight for me, it’s ground-breaking,” she said this week.
“I’ve been privileged enough to take charge of a few matches at the Women’s World Cup and so on and also the Craven Week, which was incredible... seeing the boys just want to play and keep ball in hand, but this match will be very special for me. It shows we are making progress in the game and well done to SA Rugby and World Rugby, who are always looking to give women opportunities in the game.
“There is an exceptional group of referees that could have been appointed to take charge of Friday’s match, so I am delighted SA Rugby has faith in me to do the honours.”
Barrett-Theron’s passion for rugby started years ago while growing up in a sports-loving home in Durban. “Saturday afternoons were about watching rugby on television, and I fell in love with the game,” she said.
“It progressed from there. I started playing some touch rugby and then I hit a ceiling. Fortunately my sports co-ordinator at school suggested I get involved in Sevens, which I did, and before I knew it I was in the national women’s Sevens team and my career took off.”
Barrett-Theron played in the backline, and was comfortable at fullback, centre and flyhalf. She represented the SA women’s team in touch rugby, Sevens, U20 level and senior level.
“I suppose I’m like so many other South Africans... I love my rugby. I tried other sports, but they never did much for me; rugby offers so much more,” Barrett-Theron said.
After six years of playing the game, Barrett-Theron swapped her mouth guard for a whistle in 2014. “I wanted to stay involved in the game and give something back. Now I just play a bit of social touch, but I’m focused on the refereeing and train six days a week; that’s my new path now,” Barrett-Theron said.
So what’s it like being a female referee in a very male-dominated world, especially when it comes to handling men’s matches, like the one she will officiate in Welkom tomorrow? “I knew what I was getting myself into, and that was crucial in the beginning,” Barrett-Theron said. “It can and has been difficult at times, but I’ve always embraced the challenges and in my home area (Cape Town) people have gotten to know me and respect what I do.
“When I travel outside of the Cape I get a few looks, but I just laugh it off. The key thing is to do my job properly and to referee according to the law. If I do what I must, then no one can say a thing.
“I do feel though, on the whole, there is a general atmosphere of negativity around refereeing, and I’d like to see that change. We’re rendering a service and never go out to ruin a game or get things wrong, but we’re humans and there will be mistakes. We’re never going to get all the calls 100 percent correct. It would also helps if the fans knew the laws a bit better.”
Barrett-Theron though added she gets tremendous support from SA Rugby and her fellow referees. “I’ve built some great relationships and the help and advice I get from the likes of Craig Joubert, Jaco Peyper, Rasta Rashivenghe, Ben Crous and so on is wonderful. They’re all so supportive and that’s great,” Barrett-Theron said.
The self-confessed fan of the Springboks and players like Jean de Villiers, Pat Lambie and Percy Montgomery in his day, added that she’d very much like to handle a game at Twickenham in future and would like to see the scrum laws looked at. “I know it’s a physical game, but safety must always come first,” Barrett-Theron said.
And what does she like most about rugby? “I love seeing great counter-attacking rugby. There are times in a game when I can get caught ball-watching,” Barrett-Theron laughs. THERE ARE many things that will influence the outcome of Western Province’s Currie Cup semi-final clash against the Golden Lions on Saturday.
When the game kicks off at 5pm this weekend, those influences will be everywhere on the field – at the breakdown battle, set-piece contest, game management, individual touches…everywhere.
Earlier this week, Province coach John Dobson said that he wants his team to do better on defence and react quicker at the breakdowns (keeping guys like Lions hooker Malcolm Marx, and loose forwards Kwagga Smith and Cyle Brink in mind).
And against the Sharks, WP certainly could have done better in those areas. After all, those are two areas that will definitely have a big influence on the weekend’s result. They always do.
But another influence that WP should make sure is a good one, is what they do in opposition 22.
This Currie Cup season, WP haven’t enjoyed a good record away. They’ve won just two of their six away games (against the Sharks and Blue Bulls), and their trips away include defeats to the Golden Lions, Pumas, Griquas and Free State Cheetahs.
But what’s that got to do with the topic of this piece? A lot.
You see, in some of those disappointing outings, WP were in the lead, but they let those scoreboard advantages slip. It wasn’t always due to only one reason, but one thing that had become an away-worry for the Cape side during their roundrobin stages of the competition was their finishing ability.
Province haven’t made a habit of losing their own lineouts in opposition 22 or losing the scrum battle in that area, in fact, their set-pieces have been functioning well. It’s when they carry the ball into that golden spot that the errors have arised.
In those away encounters (especially), WP would string together a few good attacking patterns, but handling errors or turning possession over due to whatever other reason annoyingly halted those movements.
But it’s been even more frustrating when they would get all the way into opposition 22, only to cough up possession through negligent ball-handling and poor decision-making.
They’ve also been kept to mostly defensive roles a number of times this season – games in which they would make 200-odd tackles, and after each one of those occasions, WP’s coaching staff made it clear that that’s not the way they want to go about their business.
They’re dangerous with ball-in-hand, and with the players that they have, how
I suppose I’m like so many other South Africans ... I love my rugby. I tried other sports, but they never did much for me; rugby offers so much more.