Q+A with referee Larissa Woolerton

Larissa Woolerton become New Zealand's seventh female international referee during the recent Oceania Women's Series, overseeing Samoa v Tonga as her debut match. We caught up with Larissa to chat about her refereeing pathway, who has helped her along the way, and her highlights with the whistle in hand. 

When did you start refereeing and how did you get into it?

10 years ago this year I believe. I was playing rugby in South Taranaki, and it got to a point at high school where I couldn’t play on the boys’ teams, and our school women’s team would play on Sundays. On Saturdays when my brother was playing, to stay involved I would grab a flag for the referee and run touch. After that, I spent my Saturdays in the middle, starting at under 11s in my hometown.

When or why did you make the decision to really focus on your refereeing and strive for the top?

This is a tough question. Getting into the National Squad in 2018 gave me the confidence to go further in refereeing. It proved to me that when I put work into my refereeing it creates opportunities that I couldn’t dream of and at times when I least expect them. However, I don’t feel as though there is one moment in time that was a ‘light bulb’ moment for me. I’m still developing each day and with each opportunity.

Aside from your international debut, what have been some of your favourite memories or highlights from your involvement in rugby?

I have two. Refereeing the National Women’s Sevens final a few years ago was an opportunity to show my development in understanding the Sevens game over a few years. The final was an occasion to mark my success within the tournament and put to bed previous experiences. It was a very proud moment for me.

Another highlight was being asked to referee at the Invitational 7s tournament in Dubai that runs alongside the HSBC 7s series 5-6 years ago. I was asked on the Tuesday and flew out on the Sunday for a whirlwind trip refereeing in the heat of Dubai, alongside some amazing names in refereeing today. I got my first real taste of a big tournament and the expectations that come with this. They were long days with lots of learning and I made some lifelong friendships. It was also what showed me how much I loved the openness and excitement of the Sevens game.

Have you had any specific mentors or people that have helped you in your refereeing?

Lionel Shaw is a stalwart of the Taranaki Referees Association, especially in South Taranaki. He was the encouragement I needed to get into refereeing and keep at it. He showed me the ropes, found me a coach and continues to support me through my refereeing, celebrating my achievements, big or small.

Chris Morgan is my coach, but also one of my biggest supporters (other than family). Morgy has helped me since being in the New Zealand environment. He is the one who pushes me to develop myself and my refereeing. He creates an environment tailored to the way I learn to get the best out of me and my performances.

As a pro referee, early on I looked up to Paul Williams’ ability to adapt so quickly to the high performance environment. He came from South Taranaki and as a referee I grew up having him as a role model.

He also assisted me early on to learn how to train, pushing me to give my best effort, showing me how important this element was for on field performance. Paul is still someone who helps me to understand aspects of the game and preparation that I haven’t encountered yet. He is a valuable asset to someone growing in a high performance sport.  

There are many more, as it takes a village, but these are some who have stood out, especially recently. Also, having very supportive family and friends makes this a lot easier. Sometimes I am unable to make commitments to events due to my rugby commitments, and this is made worth it when I can show my family/friends I have made the most of the opportunities given to me.

What does a regular week look like in terms of your refereeing (training, reviews etc)?

Personally, this is hectic. Currently I am in a job that has 9 different start times and minimal consistency. The lack of balance is a work-on that I have multiple people helping to improve. This being said, no week is identical. Mostly, it looks like reviewing early in the week to then take the lessons into pregame planning before Wednesday. Training is largely on feet – my trainer puts a large emphasis on the importance of running to improve on-field performance as a referee.

What would you say to someone who is looking into getting into refereeing?

Giving back to the community is super rewarding and can lead to numerous gains, both physically and mentally. The personal developments have helped me to improve both on-field and in general life, and I cannot thank rugby and refereeing enough for that. It has also given me some of my most valued friendships and memories in life (including meeting my now husband). Give it a shot! You may just enjoy it (and it isn’t as scary as it seems!).

Are you interested in refereeing? You can find out more information and your local Referee Association here.