Temicka rules 15-a-side rugby
“I stuck to my decisions and remained confident in my calls.”
Temicka Tessner, a member of the Edenvale-based Wasps Rugby Club family, is set on making a name for herself as a female rugby referee.
The grade 10 learner from Edenvale High School is the youngest female qualified Gauteng Union Lions referee.
Earlier this year she completed a level one coaching course in 15-a-side rugby.
In August, a few months later, Tessner took to the field to referee her first match at Emirates Airline Park.
Most recently, on October 26, Tessner refereed a seven’s women’s rugby match played at Germiston Stadium.
The match formed part of the OR Tambo Soncini Social Cohesion Games hosted by the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation in partnership with the City of Ekurhuleni.
Tessner said she decided to pursue being a referee because of her passion for the sport.
“When I first started refereeing there were times where it was intimidating, especially when people questioned my calls,” said Tessner.
“I stuck to my decisions and remained confident in my calls.”
Since starting her refereeing career, Tessner has built more confidence and looks forward to where the future will take her.
She said one of the role models she looks up to is Gauteng Union Lions referee Ashley Murray.
In 2018, Murray was the first female referee to be named the Referee of the Year by the union.
“Murray handles herself very professionally,” said Tessner.
Looking to the future Tessner hopes to make a name for herself as Murray did.
