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Kiwi trailblazer Rebecca Mahoney took charge of a NPC game between Hawke's Bay and Southland in 2019, following a Ranfurly Shield challenge between Otago and North Otago, but that was as far as she progressed.<\/p>\n
Mahoney was also the first woman to be named in New Zealand Rugby's national high performance referee squad but she retired from first-class refereeing earlier this year.<\/p>\n
Perrett, 30, has already controlled two Super Rugby AU games and took the whistle for the Rebels v Reds game in Melbourne last weekend.<\/p>\n
Her first Super Rugby AU game in charge was the Brumbies v Force fixture in 2020 but she has been refereeing on the international circuit since 2012.<\/p>\n
READ MORE:<\/strong> Rising Aussie powerhouse threatening Crusaders<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Brad Thorn's revealing post-game interview<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Cheika shoots down fairytale NSW return<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n NZ Rugby currently has six women in its high performance referee squad: Brittany Andrew (Manawat\u016b), Tiana Ngawati (Bay of Plenty), Maggie Cogger-Orr (Auckland), Lauren Jenner (Counties), Larissa Collingwood (Waikato) and Selica Winiata (Manawat\u016b).<\/p>\n Even if Perrett misses out on a trans-Tasman Super Rugby appointment on this occasion, it is only a matter of time before a female referee breaks through that glass ceiling.<\/p>\n In the northern hemisphere, Ireland's Joy Neville was the TMO (television match official) for three Six Nations games this year \u2013 England v Scotland, England v Italy, and England v France.<\/p>\n The referee appointments for the trans-Tasman competition will already be closely watched after a series of mistakes by New Zealand referees in this year's Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.<\/p>\n For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here!<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Ben O'Keeffe admitted he should have sent Crusaders prop Joe Moody to the sin bin in round one for a flurry of open-palm blows aimed at Highlanders lock Jack Regan, while referees boss Bryce Lawrence said officials made two high-profile blunders during round three.<\/p>\n "Our accountability is exactly the same as the players,'' Lawrence said in a short video released by NZ Rugby.<\/p>\n "We don't drop people on one poor performance or one bad mistake. We look at all the good things they do and then we just try to get better each week.<\/p>\n "We have got a group of world-class match officials, I totally support them. I am sure they are going to bounce back."<\/p>\n After the Blues-Hurricanes clash last weekend, Hurricanes coach Jason Holland said the referees had erred in sending Ardie Savea to the sin bin for pulling down a maul close to the try line.<\/p>\n "They have got to make sure they get those big ones right," Holland said.<\/p>\n "It is seven points with a penalty try and a sin bin, and you can't play with 14 and create tempo.<\/p>\n "When there are big calls like that, they have got to be bang on."<\/p>\n The six-week Super Rugby competition is set to kick off with a game between the Highlanders and Reds in Dunedin on May 14.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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