Rugby: Trailblazer referee Maggie Cogger-Orr calls for more women at rugby's elite level

While the number of women playing rugby in New Zealand continues to rise, the same can't be said for female referees.   

Auckland Rugby has gone on a charm offensive to recruit more women to the role and it appears to be working, although it seems it's rugby league that's leading the way.

Maggie Cogger-Orr is used to being the only female on the field but it often works in her favour.  

"Some of the boys are used to being told what to do by their mums so it's easier for me," Cogger-Orr told Newshub. 

The 32-year-old is a international rugby referee and is also the Women's Referee Development Manager at New Zealand Rugby.   

She's been working alongside Auckland Rugby, who in 2022 only had three registered women referees. That number has since risen to 10 – a flow-on effect from the women's Rugby World Cup.  

"Through the exposure that the Rugby World Cup gave females, they were thinking 'well, we want to be involved and we want to be on the field - not behind the scenes," said Auckland Rugby referee development manager Ant Petrie.

Cogger-Orr has shown what opportunities it can bring.  

She's officiated in the women's Six Nations, Super Rugby Aupiki and has been selected for the Rugby Sevens at next month's Paris Olympics.

Cogger-Orr believes admitting females don't realise how naturally suited they are to refereeing.

"We've often got a lot of attributes that are important for refereeing like empathy, the ability to see different points of view, keep people calm, operate under pressure," she claimed.  

But there is still a lot of stigma surrounding female refs in the men's game. 

A few have refereed the Heartland Championship and NPC but, unlike the NRL which has had females involved since 2019, Super Rugby is still playing catch up.  

"It's just that old school way of thinking of how it used to be done, so we really need to change the narrative." 

That is why Petrie has set up programmes like "Wahine with whistles" around the country, calling on women of all ages who want to start learning the art of refereeing.

"I'm excited to see in 10 years from now, when I'm well gone and retired, just how far the next generation can push and there will be someone in Super Rugby for sure." 

While the number of women playing rugby in New Zealand continues to rise, the same can't be said for female referees.   

Auckland Rugby has gone on a charm offensive to recruit more women to the role and it appears to be working, although it seems it's rugby league that's leading the way.

Maggie Cogger-Orr is used to being the only female on the field but it often works in her favour.  

"Some of the boys are used to being told what to do by their mums so it's easier for me," Cogger-Orr told Newshub. 

The 32-year-old is a international rugby referee and is also the Women's Referee Development Manager at New Zealand Rugby.   

She's been working alongside Auckland Rugby, who in 2022 only had three registered women referees. That number has since risen to 10 – a flow-on effect from the women's Rugby World Cup.  

"Through the exposure that the Rugby World Cup gave females, they were thinking 'well, we want to be involved and we want to be on the field - not behind the scenes," said Auckland Rugby referee development manager Ant Petrie.

Cogger-Orr has shown what opportunities it can bring.  

She's officiated in the women's Six Nations, Super Rugby Aupiki and has been selected for the Rugby Sevens at next month's Paris Olympics.

Cogger-Orr believes admitting females don't realise how naturally suited they are to refereeing.

"We've often got a lot of attributes that are important for refereeing like empathy, the ability to see different points of view, keep people calm, operate under pressure," she claimed.  

But there is still a lot of stigma surrounding female refs in the men's game. 

A few have refereed the Heartland Championship and NPC but, unlike the NRL which has had females involved since 2019, Super Rugby is still playing catch up.  

"It's just that old school way of thinking of how it used to be done, so we really need to change the narrative." 

That is why Petrie has set up programmes like "Wahine with whistles" around the country, calling on women of all ages who want to start learning the art of refereeing.

"I'm excited to see in 10 years from now, when I'm well gone and retired, just how far the next generation can push and there will be someone in Super Rugby for sure." 

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