Kath Little has refereed at some of Australia’s top-level rugby union tournaments and will now have the chance to represent the country on the international stage after being selected to officiate at the Commonwealth Games next month.
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Based in Walcha, Little is also a development officer for NSW Rugby in the New England North West region.
While she’s been part of a large number of rugby union competitions throughout her career, Little said it is exciting to take her passion for the sport to the Games.
“I am the end of my career in doing stuff at that Australian level so I am probably one of the more experienced officials on the sidelines,” she said.
“I am going to be up there with a group of people I know and we have done other tournaments before.
“I think the Commonwealth Games is going to be a little bit special as we are going as the Australian officiating team rather than just Australian Rugby Union.
“In some ways it will be a little bittersweet for me, it will probably be my last Australian appointment so it is certainly a nice way to end that national officiating part of my life.”
While Little may be looking at finishing up her career at a national level, she has no intentions of permanently hanging up the whistle and will continue refereeing and dedicating herself to helping others reach their goals in the sport.
“Concentrating on rugby development and coaching in the New England North West and also I will continue to competitively referee in Country Rugby,” she said.
“My passion is to see the game grow and develop in this part of the world so to help those people that are just coming in, whether they are players or officials, see some of those pathways that are now available to them that weren't there when I started.”
She said it is a fulfilling career and wants to encourage others to get involved, whether it be through coaching, officiating or playing.
“It is just about facilitating the game, seeing people out there and it is the players who go to training week-in and week-out and to see them go out there and pull off the perfect play or smoke someone down the sideline, that is really rewarding - you are happy for them,” she said.
“We are trying to grow the participation numbers out here and try and help people with become coaches, we want to see people coaching, we want to see more people officiating and playing.
“It is a great game and there are so many benefits to it, for boys and girls.”