Nicola Inwood (born 24 January 1970) is a rugby union referee and former player. She made her debut for New Zealand in 1989.[1] She competed at the 1991 Rugby World Cup.[2]

Nicky Inwood
Date of birth (1970-01-24) January 24, 1970 (age 54)
Height1.57 m (5 ft 2 in)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
Canterbury ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1989–1991  New Zealand 10

Career edit

Inwood began her refereeing career in 1999, her first international match as a referee was between the United States and the Netherlands at the 2002 World Cup.[1] She also refereed at the 2006 and 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup.[3]

In 2007, she made history as the first woman to officiate a Six Nations women's match and the first woman to referee at Twickenham. The match was the curtain-raiser to the men's Six Nations, and was between the same nations, England and Italy.[4]

Inwood has also refereed women's sevens matches in Hong Kong and Wellington. She was selected to the International Rugby Board's first women's referee panel in 2011.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Dawson, Mark (26 May 2012). "Women's rugby icon set to return". NZ Herald. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  2. ^ Pearson, Joseph (29 October 2021). "The trailblazing Black Ferns who were asked to pay to play at the first Rugby World Cup". Stuff. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Rugby: International recognition for Inwood". Otago Daily Times Online News. 10 March 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Rugby: NZ female ref at Twickenham". NZ Herald. 10 February 2007. Retrieved 26 January 2022.