An Okotoks rugby official recently had a flag-raising day at a national championship. Now she hopes to return to the international stage.
Kristina Wolfe was the assistant referee in the Prairie Wolf Pack’s 35-25 victory over the Ontario Blues in the Canadian Men’s Rugby Championship final on July 1 in Calgary.
“The role of the assistant referee is assisting the referee with knock-ons, when ball goes to touch, foul plays…” Wolfe said.
She also raised the flags, indicating where balls have gone out. As well she was one of the officials indicating whether a convert went through the up-rights.
Wolfe was an assistant referee during an International Women’s 7s tournament in Calgary in late June. Her crowning achievement — so far — was being the head referee at the Women’s World Cup of Rugby in 2006 in Edmonton where she officiated a Kazakhstan vs. Canada match.
“I started refereeing when I was 15 when in New Zealand where I was also playing,” the 32-year-old Wolfe said. “I just loved the game and I wanted to participate in a different part of the game.”
Playing rugby in New Zealand is like playing hockey in Canada, it’s part of the national heritage.
“Always been a rugby fan, my family has been rugby fans — I played since the age of four years old,” she said.
There are adjustments when making the transition from player to official.
“You still have to be athletic and keep your fitness up,” Wolfe said. “It’s very law-focused, and often you are just out there on your own rather than being part of a team.”
Wolfe ended up in the Foothills hotbed of rugby, Okotoks, by marrying a somewhat fish out of water — a Canadian coaching baseball in Auckland, N.Z.
Her husband Greg Wolfe eventually made it back to Canada as a coach with the Okotoks Dawgs Academy. The Foothills area not only gained another baseball coach, it got a highly-efficient referee. Wolfe has been a mainstay as a head referee at Foothills Lions and Okotoks high school games.
“You can always use more referees,” she said with a laugh.
She’s earned the respect of the men she has officiated. There were no trash comments from either the Blues or the Wolf Pack during the final. After all, rugby is a rough game, played by ladies and gentlemen.
“When I started 15 years ago, it was a little difficult,” Wolfe said. “But now, there are a lot more women referees out there. The guys are very respectful and welcoming.
“Both the guys and the women are.”
Wolfe will be a head referee in Regina to officiate the U-19 men’s and U-20 women national championships from July 14-19.
“But I would love to do international rugby again,” she said.
