Young referees taking their opportunities in North Canterbury

Friends Jojo Baldwin and Ruby Darragh are amongst the graduates for Canterbury and New Zealand Rugby’s “You Make The Call” course and are well on their way to making a name for themselves within North Canterbury referees.

Year 11 high school student Jojo was first introduced to rugby at four years old playing for Ohoka and was just 12 years old when she played for Kaiapoi U16s. Playing in a grade with older players wasn’t a concern for Jojo, she was just keen to get on field, “all the girls were really nice, some were a year or two older than me but it was the only girls team in North Canterbury.”

An injury early in the 2021 season stopped Jojo’s rugby playing days but she chose to pick up a whistle the next year, to keep herself immersed in the game.

Jojo was a co-winner of the Des Hawkes Trophy for Outstanding First Year Referee in 2022, when she began refereeing U11s. She has since moved up to U14.5 games, as well as some first XV girls. Moving up the grades is Jojo’s favourite part of refereeing as she enjoys “seeing players progress” alongside her.

Meeting others who have the same interest in her and gaining extra credits towards NCEA are two of the additional bonuses as a result of taking part in the course for Jojo.

Beginning her rugby career in the Ashley Rugby Clubs U10’s, Ruby eventually played simultaneously for Christchurch Girls and High School Old Boys until U16’s, before having to hang up her boots due to injury as well. The boots didn’t stay away for long, as she picked them back up along with her whistle to become a referee.

Giving back to the sport is important to Ruby, “I love the game, I miss it so much still.” For her, refereeing is the best way she can keep involved. “I love seeing all the youngies and helping them.”

Helping and teaching the next generation of players on the field is Rubys favourite thing about refereeing, this is even apparent to coaches of teams she comes across in North Canterbury. Paul Keane, coach for the U13 Saracens side says “I like her refereeing. She explains to the kids what the infringement is for and she’s very decisive.”

Ruby also learned from the “You Make The Call” course, after taking a year off from sport for her recovery. Learning both practical and theory over the three day course, Ruby says it “really helped my confidence, its been great seeing other people enjoy the sport I love.”

You can see the girls in action this weekend, with Jojo heading to Kaikoura to ref the U12/13s against Kaiapoi, and Ruby will be on the field with U12 and U13 Saracens sides playing against each other at home.

Written by Hannah Yates