Alhambra Nievas.Instagram / alhambranievas
On Saturday, October 14, Finland and Norway will contest a mid-level Conference 2 division rugby match.
But it is not the athletes, but the referee, who make this game extraordinary.
The match will be officiated by Alhambra Nievas, a 34-year-old from Spain — the first woman to ever referee a men’s rugby game in Europe, according to The Telegraph.
Nievas said: “It’s a real breakthrough as rugby is traditionally a male-dominated sport.”
Nievas has a wealth of experience being in charge of the whistle.
Not a bad place to training 💪#elcanosportclinic #actitudelcano #newchalleges #6nations
A post shared by Alhambra Nievas (@alhambranievas) on Feb 2, 2017 at 10:05am PST on Feb 2, 2017 at 10:05am PST
She was referee at a men’s Test match for USA versus Tonga in 2016, the first female match official to referee a men’s Test.
Later that year, she picked up the 2016 Referee of the Year gong at the World Rugby Awards.
A post shared by Alhambra Nievas (@alhambranievas) on Nov 15, 2016 at 12:42am PST on Nov 15, 2016 at 12:42am PST
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