South Canterbury rugby referee Chresta Martin has jumped at the chance to be part of the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Miss Martin said when she was asked if her name could be put forward to be a match official for the tournament, she had not thought twice.
‘‘It was pretty [casual], but it is great to be able to go up and be involved.’’
The tournament is being held in Auckland and Whangarei from October 8 to November 12, and she is one of only three South Island officials attending.
Miss Martin would be there for one day, involved in officiating three games, but said she would take up any other opportunities if they arose.
Miss Martin is the only woman to referee at senior level in South Canterbury.
She used to play rugby until she tore her ACL, but still wanted to be involved with the sport, so she decided to give refereeing a go.
‘‘What you put in is what you get out of it. You learn personal skills that help develop you as a person, like confidence and holding your own.’’
There were many ways to be involved in rugby other than playing, such as being a referee, coaching, acting as a match official and other sideline jobs that people might forget about, she said.
‘‘It’s great being involved as you get to know everyone a bit more personally and you have a great support network of people who help you out, like with the match official opportunity.’’
Having the smaller community support was great, but people should still give it a go in the bigger cities, too, if that was what they wanted to do, she said.
‘‘People just need to give it a go and get involved.
‘‘We need and would like referees. You never know where it could take you.’’
