A 17-year-old English schoolgirl has qualified as a rugby union referee.

Natalie Amor, who is 5ft 5ins tall, says she realises how big and fit rugby players are, but is not fazed by having to order them about.

Natalie, head girl at independent Badminton School in Bristol, is working towards her A-levels and hopes to read law at university.

But in her spare time has also been studying with Bristol Referee Society and has now been approved as a C1 class rugby official.

As such she is likely to take charge of matches at second team level in local leagues.

In the family

Natalie's school boasts an "extensive sports programme" although that does not include rugby and she does not play.

But it is in the family - she is the daughter of former Bristol scrum-half John Amor.

Bristol - her heroes - were happy to have her along at one of their training sessions.

She said the workout with stars including England forward Dean Ryan showed her just how huge and fit modern players are.

"I really enjoyed it but they are big, big men," said Natalie.

"I had a good run out with them and it was great.

Right stuff

"I won't be refereeing players of this standard yet. That's quite a way down the track."

The chairman of the Bristol Referee Society, Geoff Warren, said Natalie was "a quiet girl" but had the character to take command on the pitch.

At a time when the Rugby Football Union has described increasing abuse of match officials as "a major threat" to their recruitment and retention, Natalie is not worried about having the necessary authority to control a game.

She told BBC Radio 5 Live she usually spoke to the team captains before a match to tell them she did not want any trouble and if there was any they usually sorted it out.

"They tend to listen to you on the whole - they know that you have got the whistle and have control and as long as you do it fairly and safely they respect you," she said.

Potential

Bristol Referee Society training officer Adrian Johnstone, who coached Natalie from the start, said she was very good.

"She has got the potential to go quite a long way," he said.

He could recall only one other referee - a boy - of her age, and the society had had only two other young women, both university students.

"So it's very unusual at that age, and quite unusual for a woman," he said.