Former Counties Manukau Heat player Azania Watene is one of five recipients of New Zealand Rugby’s Women’s Referee Scholarship Programme for the next two years.
Each recipient of the scholarship will receive financial support, one-on-one coaching, and ongoing mentoring from NZR's Women's Referee Development Manager, Maggie Cogger-Orr. Over the course of the two-year programme, they will be integrated into development pathways within their provincial unions and connected with national performance networks.
Watene debuted for the Heat in 2014 while she fashioned a career as a lawyer and is still involved with her club side Pukekohe.
She says she is thrilled to get the opportunity. “Grateful, but instantly nervous. I hadn't done any skill specific training, and I wasn't entirely sure of what my pathway would look like. Maggie and the Union were very supportive and encouraging.”
Counties Manukau Rugby Referee Education Officer Liam Sargent said this will be a massive boost to the Union.
“I am stoked to see Azania awarded the scholarship,” Sargent said. “It is an awesome opportunity for our female players to look at refereeing as a possible pathway and having Azania is a clear example of this.
“She will become a great asset in the referee ranks in Counties Manukau and looks to have a promising referee career in front of her.”
Watene is hoping to be able to work her way up to international quality. She said her move to refereeing has been very rewarding. “At a grassroots level, one of the bigger things I’ve enjoyed is how it has impacted my paying style,’ she said. “ Also, the feedback from the teams both during the game and after. There's an incredible amount of learning that I hadn't anticipated. The HP ref group is also very competitive which has been great to see and be involved in.”
