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The Hollywoodbets Sharks have faced a challenging season so far, managing only one victory in the first ten rounds, which has left them firmly at the bottom of the URC table.

Despite being stacked with Springbok players, things haven’t gone so swimmingly for the Durban-based side as of yet.

The Lions won the game 40 – 10 on home turf at the Emirates Airline Park stadium in Johannesburg over the weekend, leaving the Sharks captain Bongi Mbonambi rather annoyed.

The KZN player, also the Springbok hooker, was accused of ‘disrespecting’ the female referee Aimee Barrett-Theron throughout the URC game against the Lions.

Rugby fans accused Bongi of being unnecessarily rude towards the ref throughout the game, claiming he walked away when she spoke, interrupted her, and questioned her decisions on the pitch. In a post-match interview, Bongi shifted some of the blame on the ref for the club’s loss.

But a viral clip shows the 36-year-old putting the player in his place in the most respectful way possible, causing everyone to defend her amazing approach to the irate player. Rugby Dump notes that Barrett-Theron brilliantly handled a clearly frustrated Mbonambi with her trademark calm demeanour, in what looked to be an escalating situation.

Disputing what was initially considered a Sharks try and instead granting the Lions a penalty, the 36-year-old referee and the Sharks captain engaged in a spirited discussion about the incident.

In February Barrett-Theron received applause for how she handled the firey U20 Six Nations clash between England and Wales, but dealing with a group of younger players was a little easier than dealing with a double World Cup-winning Springbok. She proved herself though, and it is clear that she knows exactly what she’s doing.

Even Springbok’s first lady, the wife of captain Siya Kolisi, Rachel Kolisi has shown her support for Aimee. The South African notes that Rachel liked a post shared by the URC’s Instagram account, in which Aimee was praised for her communication skills with Bongi Mbonambi.

 

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The Springbok WAG has been vocal in her support for female empowerment across various career paths, and this female ref definitely deserved a nod too.

[source:rugbydump]