Rising referee Ella Goldsmith couldn't hide her smile when talking about the potential of making her debut in the middle on Saturday.
Goldsmith will referee Fijiana Drua's clash with the Melbourne Rebels on April 1 in Suva, the first double-header the Fijians will play in Super Rugby Pacific.
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It continues her rapid rise, having earned a spot as an assistant referee for the NSW Waratahs' opener against the Western Force following impressing during the AON Next Gen Sevens.
“I had aspirations of being an AR (assistant referee) this year. I was around a little last year as a 4/5 so to get that call from ‘Kibbo (Match Offical Manager Brendan McKibbin) was really exciting," she told Rugby.com.au at the start of the month.
“The Next Gen (Sevens) was really exciting, that was my first big appointment. It was really exciting to have that step up, you had the Aussie Sevens girls playing within those teams so your level of performance had to rise with the level of play.
“I’ll take that on. You work through chatting with those players and rise to that professionalism so I know I have to bring that again for Super W.”
Goldsmith reflects the growth of women's refereeing in Super W, the most representation from a match offical perspective in the competition's six-year history.
She is a product of Rugby Australia's Female Match Official Leadership Program led by trailblazer Amy Perrett, graduating last year to go on and referee at the World Schools Sevens.
Goldsmith praised the influence of Perrett and Amber McLachlan, who recently officiated the Women's Six Nations opener, as she looks to create her own path.
“I put so much praise in Amber (McLachlan) and Amy (Perrett),” she explained.
“Amber was in NSW last month and she helped me at a Tahs session. She’s been really great at just letting me pick her brain which I’ll do closer to round one to get that experience.
“I’m fortunate enough to have Amy as my season coach in NSW. They have so much experience and knowledge, really willing to help out the younger generation
“I remember when I got first told about the Leadership Program, it was great to meet so many girls and you’ve seen the growth with someone like Jess Ling who is doing Super W and has now done Tests. It’s paving the way for that next generation to follow in the steps of Amy, Amber and Tyler (Miller).
“I can see what they have done within a year and I’m really trying to push myself to get there as well.”
