The 39-year-old from Cape Town, one of the most respected officials in world rugby, will focus on treatment and recovery, informing both SA Rugby and World Rugby that she will be unavailable for the foreseeable future.

Barrett-Theron last took charge of a match in June when she refereed the South Africa ‘A’ clash against Zimbabwe at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Aimee Barrett-Theron officiating the SA Cup game between the Leopards and Cheetahs - Morgan Piek

A former Springbok in both the 15-a-side and sevens formats, Barrett-Theron has built an inspirational refereeing career. She became the first woman to officiate a men’s match in South Africa and currently holds the record as the most experienced female Test referee, having overseen 52 internationals.

Sharing the news publicly, Barrett-Theron revealed that her diagnosis came after she performed a self-examination.

“I’ve recently been diagnosed with breast cancer,” she said. 

“The positive news is that it is treatable, and I have an incredible team of specialists helping me on this journey. The aim is to get healthy and, hopefully, return to the field in a few months.”

Aimee Barrett-Theron - World Rugby

She admitted it was not an easy decision to step away from the game she loves but said her priority is to give her full attention to treatment.

“For now, my focus is on recovery. I’m approaching this just as I would any high-performance challenge – with a strong team around me, a clear plan and total commitment.”

Known for breaking barriers throughout her career, Barrett-Theron believes the resilience that carried her to the top of international refereeing will help her through this fight.

“Refereeing has taught me resilience, discipline and how to perform under pressure. I was determined to succeed as a referee, and I’m just as determined to overcome this and come back stronger.”

She also used the opportunity to encourage others to prioritise their health, urging people to perform regular self-checks and seek medical advice if something does not feel right. As a player, Barrett-Theron, represented South Africa as  fullback, centre and flyhalf.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport