Ref Aimee makes her mark
31-year-old on the big stage at Twickenham this afternoon.
Rated as South Africa’s leading female rugby referee, Aimee Barrett-Theron got her big breakthrough when she officiated the season-opening Women’s November International between the United States and New Zealand in Chicago three weeks ago.
She rated the accolade as a big privilege after being named on the World Rugby referees panel for the biggest women’s international season yet. She is the only South African on the referees panel, which includes referees from England, Ireland, Italy and France.
“It was an honour to officiate two Top-Tier nations in Chicago earlier this month,” said the 31-year-old Barrett-Theron, who will also take charge of the Test between England and Ireland at Twickenham today.
“I really enjoyed my time in the city and being a part of The Rugby Weekend – running out at Soldier Field, as well as having two men’s internationals played after our match was an amazing experience overall.
“The rugby was fast and physical and I ended up running 8.3km during the match ... and it was all well worth it!”
Barrett-Theron is a former South African rugby union player who turned out at fullback, centre or flyhalf and played in various forms of the game ranging from 15-a-side rugby union, Sevens and touch rugby.
Having represented KwaZulu-Natal at domestic level between 2005 and 2008 and Western Province between 2009 and 2012, she also represented South Africa Women at Under-20 level in 2008, at senior level between 2008 and 2010 and the Sevens team between 2008 and 2012.
“I grew up in Durban and attended Northlands Girls High School. I got a rugby bursary at Stellenbosch University and continued to play throughout my academic career,” she recalls.
“I achieved quite a few milestones in the game and I was looking for a new challenge, so I decided to pick up the whistle. I thought I knew a lot as a player, but it is a completely different ball-game as a referee,” she admits.
Barrett-Theron, who in her spare time loves to read, stand-up paddle boarding and surfing while listing ribs as her favourite food, has no doubt over who had the biggest influences on her life and career.
“My mom has certainly been one of the biggest influences for me – she has always supported me in everything I do and I always aim to make her proud,” she said.
“I have also been very fortunate to have very supportive friends and family (she and her husband Zaandre have two daughters) who have kept me going, WP Rugby and SA Rugby have been the backbone of my refereeing career and without their support, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Barrett-Theron’s appointment for the November Women’s Internationals follows another significant moment in her refereeing career in August in which she took charge of her first Currie Cup First Division match between the SWD Eagles and Leopards in George.
“There was a lot of hype around the game because it was quite a moment be- ing the first female to referee a game of this calibre,” she says.
“To be honest, once I was within the four lines, it was a game of rugby for me.
“I love a challenge, so it was great to experience the game at that level and I hope there are many more to come.”
With referees coming under fire during the Springboks’ November tour, Barrett-Theron said people don’t always realise what it requires to become a top referee and there is a code where they try to be consistent and fair at all times.
“Referees always aim to go out onto the field and try to do their best,” she said.
“We work incredibly hard behind the scenes to make sure we’re physically, mentally and technically prepared for the matches, but rugby is a dynamic game, and one may not always get it right to be perfect.
“The important thing is to be consistent in our decisions and to do the best we can at every opportunity.”
A total of 15 women’s Test matches were scheduled to take place between November 3 and 27, with the matches being hosted across eight countries, namely the US, England, Spain, France, Italy, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.