In the countdown to Women's Rugby World Cup 2010, we continue our '60 seconds with...' feature in the company of Sarah Corrigan, the Australian referee who has been named on the match official panel for the tournament.
What was your first rugby experience?
My very first rugby experience, apart from the one or two games I played, would have been doing the referee course and getting out to referee my first game, I think it was Under 11s or something, and the only thing I can think of when I look back on it now is I must have had no idea what was going on!
When did you know that Rugby was what you wanted to be involved in?
Probably at school, so when I was 17 and I went to a school where rugby was the primary winter sport and everyone is involved in rugby, so I think then and my Dad is quite into rugby too so it was something we could share together.
Why a referee as opposed to a player?
My Dad talked me into it. When I was 17 I just really wanted to play, I thought it would be the most fun thing ever. I think my parents were a bit worried about the broken bones, the broken nose all that sort of stuff so they kind of talked me into it.
What part of training do you dread the most?
Aahh, the fitness, the running. It is one of those things, you have to do it, you know you have to do it but it just never fun!
As a referee, what's your pre-match routine, your preferred meal?
I have a sort of set pre-match, things I like to do in a certain order. I try to be flexible on them though because sometimes you can't prevent stuff from happening before the game, like you get to the ground late for reasons out of your control and if you are too strict it can all go a bit pear-shaped.
I like to eat two to three hours before my game, any later than that and it is never good. Just things like cereal bars and stuff like that, light stuff that gives me carbs but doesn't weigh you down. I don't really have a set, this is what I have to eat.
What do you like to do outside of rugby?
I have got a few things; it is usually all sports orientated though! Big one for me at the moment is I have taken up wakeboarding, absolutely love that.
What is your day job?
I work for the Australian Federal Government. They are very flexible, if I need leave it's not a huge issue. They are really supportive, I have been very lucky but that said I have to work 38 hours a week. The good thing about my job is I can start at seven, so I work seven till three or four, then I go to training, then I fit Uni in and my husband usually comes last!
What are you studying at University?
I'm in the final year of a Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Science degree. I am just doing that part-time, because I couldn't fit any more in than that. Uni are actually fantastic, they do a lot of work with AIS athletes, so they have an elite sportsperson's programme, so if you are an athlete and you are competing overseas and high levels of training, they actually work with you to ensure you can still do Uni as well. My work is actually directly linked to Uni, at the moment I am actually working in my degree field which is great.
Sporting idols?
Referee wise, probably guys like Peter Marshall and Paddy O'Brien. They just had this amazing way on the field of dealing with players, always just looking so relaxed and so in control. Players like George Gregan, he was playing right up till his mid-thirties, he was so super fit and it didn't matter how much criticism came his way he was still playing really well and that kind of dedication I can really look up to.
Best sporting memory?
Probably would have been that semi final of the [Women's Rugby] World Cup, between England and Canada [in 2006]. It was just one of those games where I never expected to get it and all of a sudden you have got it, everything seemed to go right on the day and it was just such a great game and probably my best memory so far.
Favourite film and book?
I love all movies. I am really bad for science fiction. It is good when you watch a movie that is really indepth and really well written, but I am happy just to go along and spend two hours and it can be the most bizarre thing that doesn't have to make sense, but that is fine. I can't think of a favourite of the top of my head. I read just about anything, you never sort of end up with a favourite. I have probably got favourite authors as opposed to a book. I really like Robin Hobb who does more of a fantasy type book.
