South African rugby referee, Jenny Bentel, will make history later tonight, as the first South African woman to officiate at a women’s rugby world cup match.
Bentel will take charge of the Ireland v France game on the opening day of the IRB Women’s World Cup in Edmonton, Canada, starting later today.
Last August, Bentel became the first woman to blow the whistle in a men’s provincial game when she took charge of the under-19 clash between the Golden Lions and the Griffons at the University of Johannesburg.
In 2004, Bentel made history by becoming South Africa’s first woman to referee in a Test match, when the Springbok Women clashed with their Welsh counterparts in Port Elizabeth.
SA Rugby Manager for Referees, Andre Watson, is ecstatic about Bentel’s progress as a referee.
“Absolutely fantastic! Not only is she the first South African woman to get this honour, but to be among the eight women referees picked from around the world is an incredible achievement.
“Women’s rugby in South Africa is still new compared to the likes of New Zealand and England, but we are showing that we can be up there with the best. I hope this will light the fire of ambition for other women who want to become test referees,” said Watson.
The only other South African woman to receive test referee colours is Kim Smit, who refereed her first test in June this year between the Springbok Women and Netherlands in Durban.
It’s understood that Smit is at the Rugby World Cup but gsport newsroom is unable to establish in what capacity.
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