BE PORTUGAL'S FIRST WORLD CUP OFFICIAL

MARIA HEITOR explains how she has risen through the ranks to become a trailblazer for her country

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THE 2025 Women's World Cup is set to extend the sport's boundaries, even for those nations that haven't qualified for it.

Portugal's Maria Heitor's selection as one of the 22 match officials can turn out to be a shining light, convincing people to join the referee pathway.

A former sevens international, Heitor took up rugby officiating in her late 20s, hoping to glean knowledge that would help her improve whilst still a player.

"If you better understand the laws, you'll have a more positive impact when you play, and I can attest to that," she says. "When my time as a rugby player was up, officiating was the solution to stay involved with a sport which was groundbreaking to my life."

Heitor, whose rugby journey began at Lisbon side Agronomia, was one of the best players in Portugal, collecting several titles and accolades. After retiring in 2018, her climb to the Test stage as a match official was swift, making her debut in 2021 at the Rugby Europe Trophy Sevens. She had the honour of refereeing the competition's final. "I got emotional when the anthems were played. I felt proud and, at the same time, the responsibility to give my best to those teams."