Holly Mackenzie has become the first female referee to run a premier game in Thames Valley, with her debut on June 20.
The Thames Community Board representative was selected to referee the Thames Valley Rugby Union match between Waihōu Rugby and Sports Club and Mercury Bay Rugby and Sports Club at Boyd Park in Te Aroha, in round 11 of this season’s premier men’s draw.
Mercury Bay came out ahead in the match, beating Waihōu 52-15.
“It’s the first time the men have been officiated by a woman,” Holly said.
“Both teams were actually really receptive to how I ref, because every ref refs differently, let alone being refed by a woman. For starters, we sound different on the field, so they might not pick up the fact that we’re telling them to stop doing that, and they don’t often hear a woman in that space. So I think overall it was great.”
Holly’s rise to the top ranks has been swift.
“I only started refereeing in 2024. To now be receiving appointments to representative and high-performance pathway fixtures after such a short time in the game is something I am incredibly proud of and not something I would have imagined when I first picked up a whistle,” Holly told The Profile.
“You’ve got goals, and you always want to try to achieve them, but you’ve just got to get yourself into the best position you can, fitness-wise, and [with] law knowledge.”
Holly’s refereeing journey began with junior matches, when her own children’s teams were struggling to find refs.
“I’ve been in the rugby space for a long time with my children being in there, and knew the rules and was confident enough to just go out there and give it a crack.”
Junior games very quickly led to youth games, and then on to women’s and senior-B teams.
“The kids were amazing… That’s where I figured out I really enjoyed this,” Holly said.
“It’s the best seat in the house really, being out there with them.”
Along with her own hard work, Holly said her coach Andrew Hartley was a major part of her success.
“I was fortunate enough to have Andrew as my assistant referee during a women’s match in Whangamatā in 2024, when I was still very new to refereeing. A few days after that game, he called and asked if I would like him to coach me because he saw potential in what I was doing,” Holly said.
“At the time, I had no idea that referees even had coaches, but I jumped at the opportunity. His support, guidance, and belief in me have played a huge role in my development.”
And Holly plans to keep on developing her refereeing career. She has recently been appointed to officiate the Under-18 North Island vs South Island fixture at St Peter’s School in Cambridge in July.
She has also applied for selection into the Referee Regional Representative Squad, a grueling process involving endorsement from a provincial union referee educator, passing a fitness assessment, achieving at least 80 per cent in a law examination, having a game observed by a New Zealand Rugby representative, and submitting a motivational statement.
Selection to the squad would open the door to officiating representative rugby, from Heartland Championship level through to Farah Palmer Cup fixtures.
Holly said she hopes to be a role model for other women to get involved in the rugby space, whether that be as a player, coach, referee or manager.
“I have had a few women come up to me over the years and say, ‘I didn’t realise that we could get out there and do it’. I’m hoping this will encourage more women. I genuinely look forward to every Saturday, putting on the boots, picking up the whistle, and being involved in a game that I love.”
