"I've Sent My Husband Off Twice!"

As a child, I loved watching my dad play rugby, but I grew up in the 70s and 80s when girls traditionally played netball, and rugby was only for boys.

-  LINDSAY EVANS

When I was 25, I moved to a new area with my husband, Jon. Having left all my friends behind, I needed to find a way to meet people and, as I used to be a very big girl, keep fit. I joined a local rugby team and, immediately, I was hooked! Playing rugby gave me an opportunity to be part of a team, take regular exercise and meet amazing girls who quickly became friends for life. Thanks to rugby, I was fit, healthy and happy.

Then, when I was in my early forties, I suffered a nasty injury to my neck. That was the end of my playing career.

I hated not being on the pitch-until I realised there was a way I could continue in the game I was passionate about. I'd become a referee.

Eight years ago, after successfully gaining my rugby referee qualifications, I took to the pitch to referee my first rugby match. It was an under-14s match and I was incredibly nervous. I'd been awake since 4am, reading the rugby law book over and over again. At half-time, my nerves were so bad, I was sick in the changing room!

I was terrified I'd do something wrong but, at the end of the match, both teams gave me positive feedback, which gave my confidence a much-needed boost.

At the time, Jon and I were living in Durham and I was soon regularly refereeing at games across the north of England. I'd often be asked to officiate at matches in former pit villages, where, at least once a game, I'd hear the muttered comment, "The ref's a woman!"