Real Life

How I live: Female rugby league referee

Rugby league referee Rochelle Tamarua (20) is taking the game by storm.
rugby league referee

“I was only 10 years old when I became a referee. I started out with touch rugby – my father was a ref, then one day I jumped on the field to help out. I was still a child and in charge of games with lots of adult players – some of them refused to listen to me, so I had a senior official alongside me.

“The most valuable lesson I learned during this time was to always have confidence in your calls. If you don’t, then everyone – the players, the coaches and even the spectators – will be hard on you.  I refereed touch rugby until I was 17, when my brother, who was a referee for rugby league, encouraged me to give it a go.  I started out with under-13s and slowly worked my way up.

“Last year, I was promoted to refereeing club games in Auckland – for both men and women’s sides – and this year, I reached two milestones that I’m extremely proud of. I refereed a game during the NRL Auckland Nines tournament, and also an under-20s game between the New Zealand Warriors and the Brisbane Broncos.

“Being the first female in New Zealand to referee an NRL fixture was an awesome feeling and I didn’t want to muck it up. Now my goal is to be one of the first females to referee the NRL Premiership and I’m taking the right steps to realise that dream.

“Sometimes it’s hard to be on the field and having to make tough calls, but I find that most men are respectful. The older players even call me ‘Miss’ or ‘Madam’. Believe it or not, any abuse I receive mainly comes from the sidelines, in particular from the women.

“I hear things from them like, ‘There shouldn’t be a female refereeing a game like league.’ Comments like that only make me more determined to prove them wrong. I get a lot of help, including video training, to learn about scenarios on the field, and what calls are needed. Also, I need to be extremely fit!

Rochelle and John McKeown, Auckland Referees Development Officer, at a game last September.

“Many people think my life is exciting, but it’s really not. If I’m not involved with league, then I’m hanging out with family and friends. They are supportive of me, but I don’t like them coming to see my games. It makes me too nervous.

“The skills I have learned as a referee have really helped me to deal with ‘real-world’ conflict. For instance, there have been occasions when I’ve seen a guy screaming at his girlfriend and I’ve approached him to say he shouldn’t speak to a woman in that manner. What I love most about what I do is seeing how little girls react to me being on the field. More women should get involved with league!”

As told to Aroha Awarau

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