SA referee Aimee Barrett-Theron stands down to fight illness

Record-breaking Test match referee, Aimee Barrett-Theron, has stood down from officiating with immediate effect to concentrate on treatment for a health issue.

The Cape Town-based 39-year-old officiated most recently in June when she took charge of the match between South Africa A and Zimbabwe at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. chickenroadslot.lat

She has advised SA Rugby and World Rugby that she will be unavailable for the foreseeable future.

The former Springbok XVs and Sevens player became the first woman to referee a men’s match in South Africa and is currently the most capped female referee having taken charge of 52 Tests.

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‘Good news it’s treatable’

Barrett-Theron said: “I wanted to share a personal update. I’ve recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. The good news is that it’s treatable, and I’m working with an incredible team of specialists who are fully aligned with the goal of getting me healthy and back on the field in a few months’ time.

“For now, I’ll be stepping away from refereeing while I focus on treatment and recovery.

“I’m approaching this the same way I would approach any high-performance environment: with the right team around me, a clear plan, honest conversations, and full commitment to the process.

“Refereeing has taught me a lot about resilience, discipline, pressure, and backing yourself when things get tough. Being South African probably helps too. I was determined to make it through the ranks as a referee and now, I’m even more determined to get through this and return to the field stronger.

“Thank you for the support, love, and understanding. I’ll share updates when I can, but for now my focus is on treatment, recovery, and getting back to doing what I love.

“I found this through a self-check, so please let this be your reminder: check yourself, listen to your body, and don’t delay getting anything unusual looked at.”

Overcome barriers

Mark Alexander, president of the South African Rugby Union (SARU), said: “Aimee has been a resolute and focused trail-blazer on the field and we know she will approach her treatment with the same determination and single-mindedness.

“She has had to overcome many, many barriers to reach the level of refereeing she has and we know she will take this next challenge in her stride. We wish her Godspeed in her recovery and look forward to seeing her back on the field at some point in the future.”

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 15 – After much push and pull, the government has finally fulfilled its pledge to clear the allowances owed to the national women’s football team, in addition to a handsome reward, as promised by President William Ruto on Tuesday.

Speaking at Kandanda House on Wednesday evening, Sports Principal Secretary (PS) Elijah Mwangi revealed that Ksh 10 million has been disbursed to the team as promised by the president, with another Ksh 10 million to clear their allowances.

“He (President Ruto) promised the girls that they would be given 10 million for their facilitation, which, as they can confirm, the money has already been given to them,” Mwangi said.

He added, “Of course, he also promised that we shall continue supporting them on the different stages as part of motivation. We are working on an agreeable figure for them, so that if they qualify for the finals, the way we treated our Harambee Stars during Chan, they will also be treated. Still, on an agreeable formula.”

Mwangi’s comments were the coolant to a fever-pitched day that began with Harambee Starlets players storming Kandanda House — Football Kenya Federation (FKF) headquarters — demanding their allowances.

Videos circulating on social media show the players waving twigs while chanting ‘No Wafcon! No, France! A clear message that the team would not honour their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) matches without a single cent in their purses.

It took the intervention of high-ranking Ministry of Sports officials — including Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya and his PS — to salvage a situation that was threatening to become an embarrassment of international proportions.

Wading into the stormy waters, Mwangi regretted the incident and reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting the team as they face their peers in Morocco starting July 26.

“Just to assure our girls that there is no crisis. The government is committed to supporting all sports, all of them. The issues with the allowances are being processed. Accordingly, the money goes to individual accounts, and they can confirm the money has been sent…to the under-17 team (Junior Starlets) as well as to the Starlets,” the PS said.

He further urged sports teams to direct their grievances to their respective federations, which will then pass the same to the ministry.

“Equally to the other teams…the Harambee Stars, if there are any grievances, which need to be addressed, the best thing is to raise the matter with the federation. The federation is there to reach the ministry, so that the matter can be sorted out,” Mwangi reiterated.

The matter finally put to bed, Harambee Starlets have subsequently departed for France for a residential camp in the city of Miramas.

From there, they will travel to Morocco to face the hosts in their opening match on July 26, before subsequent Group A ties against Senegal and Algeria.

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