Clara Munarini has made history, becoming the first Italian woman to be entrusted with the significant role of refereeing a United Rugby Championship (URC) match.
The 36-year-old native of Parma officiated the derby between Zebre and Benetton during the eighth round of the URC season, a match that ended 37:23 in favor of the Treviso visitors.
Insights from the Referee
Ahead of the fixture, Munarini shared her personal philosophy and journey into top-tier rugby officiating:
“Rugby is a sport that teaches discipline and respect. From that perspective, I have been luckier than I would have been in football. Let`s just say that women tend to focus more on the game and less on the referee`s decisions. But there are no substantial differences. At least not for me. We cannot always agree, and even we sometimes make mistakes. Some players have politely challenged me, but in the end, they always come over to apologize after the match.”
Munari initially pursued a variety of other sports, including athletics (long jump, triple jump, 200m and 400m running), basketball, and even a little boxing. Her passion for rugby emerged during her teenage years while watching games on television with her father.
“A friend of mine was a referee and suggested I try it. So, here I am,” she explained.
Regarding her professional status in Italy, Munarini noted the challenges of being a female referee. Currently, only Andrea Piardi holds a full-time contract within Italy. Munarini maintains a strong federal contract while simultaneously working for a logistics company, which allows her to continue her dedication to officiating.
Describing her style of management on the pitch, Munarini emphasized clarity and efficiency:
“As for my refereeing style, I prefer to be understood during the game. My goal is to make the game simple and dynamic. And most importantly, we must enjoy it, because it is still a game.”
Her appointment follows the growing trend of female officials managing elite men`s competitions, signaling a major step forward for Italian rugby.
