In the three years since she first took up the whistle, Spanish referee Alhambra Nievas has officiated at a Women’s Rugby World Cup and in the Women’s Six Nations as well as being a regular on the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series.
Now she is on course to realise another dream after being named on the 12-strong panel for the women's event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
“It is a dream come true as I’ve always wished to be part of the Olympic Games," said Nievas, who has refereed the last two finals on the series, in Sao Paulo and Atlanta.
“It is a great opportunity for all of us on the panel and now our goal as a team is to arrive in the best condition so we can contribute to a successful and amazing tournament in Rio, and show the world the unique essence of our sport.”
And then, post Rio, Nievas will turn her attention to another career goal.
"In 2017, there is the World Cup in Ireland, which is my next challenge in 15s rugby.
“At the moment I’m involved in the Sevens World Series, so maybe I need to take it one step at a time. But there is plenty left for me to achieve."
Mixing it with the best
Her meteoric rise to the top was recognised last November when Nievas was nominated for the World Rugby Referee Award alongside the vastly more experienced Nigel Owen and Jérôme Garces.
Welshman Owen, who is due to break the record for most test matches as a referee in June when he takes charge of his 71st game in Fiji, eventually took the top prize at the World Rugby Awards in London, but Nievas was just thrilled to have been there in the first place.
“It was amazing. It is something you never expect. I found out at the airport, en route to Switzerland, and I couldn’t believe it, I thought it was a joke. So I called my family and I told them with a bit of incredulity.
“It was a fantastic night. Being surrounded by people at the highest level of rugby, and having the opportunity to enjoy that moment was very special. My colleagues treated me very well and it was great being there.
“It is a collective award rather than an individual one, an award to the work we are doing as female referees and to how the team is reacting to the challenges that we keep having to face.”
Nievas admits her entry into rugby refereeing was more by “accident” than design.
“A referee friend encouraged me to help in a rugby camp for children, and that’s when I started being a referee,” the Malaga resident explained.
“Opportunities to do it on a national scale came up and the internationally. That is when I took refereeing more seriously and became a professional.
“At the beginning it is difficult to earn the respect of the players, because you are unsure of yourself and all the laws of the sport, but as you improve you really enjoy being part of the match and contributing to the game running as smoothly as possible.”
Photo credit: Mike Lee @RugbyFotos
