Women Referees and Coaches Wanted
An increasing number of women are coaching rugby and refereeing nationwide but to keep pace with the growth of the women’s and girls’ game, and to have real inclusivity, the RFU wants to recruit more.
That’s why the Rugby World Cup 2025 Impact programme will provide training and development opportunities for female coaches and match officials, which may include bursaries, kit, equipment and mentoring.
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Existing female refs and coaches cover both female and male rugby and say that they love being involved, listing the benefits as: staying in the game and keeping friendships, giving back to the game, staying physically and mentally fit, developing professionally and personally, and – most importantly – having fun while encouraging the next generation of players.
Yueli Ang is excited to be part of the movement to recruit women referees. She began playing in university and says: “Rugby isn’t just a sport, it’s a family. University rugby was super fun, from the socials to eventually winning BUCS Finals in Twickenham! I went on to represent Singapore in rugby 7s and 15s and made rugby family wherever I’ve lived and travelled to play. Having moved back to the UK, there are so many incredible opportunities to be involved. I currently play for Chelmsford Ladies and this year represented Essex.
“I picked up refereeing because I plan to retire after one more season and refereeing is the perfect way for me to stay involved in the sport I love. My first match was at Basildon a day after this year’s Storm Eunice. It was a merit game and the teams were super friendly and welcoming. It was muddy rainy and windy but the lads enjoyed themselves.
“I was quite nervous about my very first Colts game because I’d heard Colts games can get quite rowdy. I stayed calm and kept up with what was a great game – no trouble from anyone whatsoever. And the boys and coaches came up to me afterwards to tell me I was the best ref they’d had that season. There’s a shortage of refs in the Essex region, so I want to play my part to help. It would mean a lot to me if I could inspire anyone to pick up the whistle, regardless of their gender.”
The England Rugby Refereeing Award helps people gain the knowledge, skills and attributes to safely and effectively referee young players and adults. With lots of opportunity to put what you learn into practice, both on the two face-to-face days and throughout the season, there is plenty of support.
And the England Rugby Coaching Award is the ideal way to start coaching U12s and up and gaining all the knowledge, skills and attributes to safely and effectively coach both young players and adults. There’s support across the season and two face-to-face days with the flexibility to coach and learn as you go.
Clare Wilkins coaches at Hornets RFC, where they have six female coaches and says: “I’m so proud when I see the girls at the end of a match buzzing from playing regardless of if they have won or lost. Their teamwork and support of each other is amazing. I love the way that, as a coaching team, we can build the foundations for them to grow their rugby family.”
Stacey Coulthard was freezing watching her son play rugby at Leicester Forest so she began sorting out cones and tag belts and was asked to get more involved.
She says: “In the past few years of coaching, I've thrown myself into interviews and courses and various roles far beyond my comfort zone and they have paid off. I'm now leading a coaching group for the county and building the two age groups up from scratch.
“I would tell anyone to jump in both feet and you won't look back! The course leaders and those delivering webinars are fantastic people and incredibly supportive, I didn't know rugby but I knew teaching so my skills gave me a platform, you may have other skills that are transferable and make you unique. There are now mentors alongside the webinars to support you through, I have just become one and I’m really looking forward to supporting people through their refereeing and coaching journeys.”
Holly Feller, a match official from Topsham RFC, broke her leg playing and says local referees kept telling her to try match officiating.
“So I signed up for the England Rugby Refereeing Award in 2021 and I’m so glad I did. Refereeing has made me much more confident, and I have really settled into it. I refereed a charity Memorial Game at my club, a game I used to play in, and my teammates were all genuinely complimentary of how well I did. I'm doing better than I thought I would at this stage and really loving it.”
You could be one of the women loving coaching or refereeing and it may be possible to get the cost of your course covered
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