History-maker Nikki O'Donnell is the first female to take charge of a Rotherham rugby game.

“Would you argue with a small Geordie lass?” laughed referee Nikki O'Donnell, fresh from officiating at Saturday's match against Hull Ionians at Clifton Lane.

Small in height she may be, but Nikki is no-one's pushover. She's as comfortable in charge of men's games as women's games and handled matters as well as any male official this season.

She said: “The boys are all great and irrespective of the referee, once we're on the pitch they respect a referee whether it's a 6ft tall man or a 5ft 1in tall lass. They treat you exactly the same and I treat them exactly the same.

“That's the way we work and that's the nice thing about rugby. We get that respect.”

Nikki works as a captain in the Army Nursing Corps alongside her duties with the whistle.

She added: “I've done women's internationals, Women's Premiership and I'm refereeing in National One in a couple of weeks.”

Rotherham have had a female touch judge before, but never a female referee.

Added Nikki: “This was my first time at Rotherham. It was a relatively local Yorkshire derby and it was a great atmosphere and with the exception of the two injuries, it was a good game of rugby too.

“It's nice to be involved with a club with Rotherham's history and hopefully the club can get back up to higher levels, if that's the aspiration.”