Daniel Mchardy Afternoons

LISTEN TO REBECCA MAHONEY TALK WITH DANIEL MCHARDY ABOVERebecca Mahoney is chuffed to become the first woman to referee a men's first-class rugby fixture this weekend – but she insists it's all about performing on her merits. The former Black Ferns international will be blowing the whistle at Te Aroha on Saturday where Thames Valley and Buller square off. She has two more Heartland Championship matches lined up but in this year of the suffragettes, don't call her a trailblazer for women dipping toes into the men's game.In her book, Mahoney should be ranked purely on her ability."For me, yes it's great for New Zealand that I am the first female, but I don't see it like that," Mahoney said."It's the next game, the next step for me and I've worked really hard for it."Mahoney, who played first five-eighth in two World Cups in 2006 and 2010 as part of 16 games for the Black Ferns, decided she wanted to try refereeing when she stopped playing."I had a young family, two young girls, and I just wanted to stay in the