• Clare Daniels is the RFU's new Southern Region Referee Development Manager
• "It's a dream job," says Clare as she takes up new appointment    

England's top female referee Clare Daniels will join the RFU refereeing team on August 2 as the new Southern Region Referee Development Manager.

After seven years of writing rugby news for the Bath News and Media, where she was a sports editor, and continuing a successful officiating career, Daniels takes up her new full-time role with the RFU.

It’ll certainly be a major upheaval to her working life and surely, after all that time, won’t she be just a little bit sorry to be blowing time on a hitherto highly successful journalistic career.

"No, this is my dream job," states the 36 year-old without a moments hesitation. "This is a great opportunity for me to jump in with both feet and concentrate on something I’m very passionate about."

"I am very much looking forward to building on the good work undertaken by my predecessor in the southern region Nigel Cowley, as the area has an excellent reputation for the development of its match officials."

Her new found role will see her helping to recruit and develop the unquestioned talents of the new and existing referees around Hampshire, Dorset & Wilts and the Thames Valley triumvirate of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire where she herself has been a regular visitor over the years taking charge of a host of league matches on Saturday afternoons.

I refereed games when I was playing – Daniels

Now living in Street, Somerset born Clare’s introduction to rugby came when she was 20  and friends of hers got her interested in the game and she joined the Tor RFC’s ladies team as a scrum half.

"When I was playing I was always refereeing games for referees and one day one referee suggested to me that I should give it a go, and I did," she added.

Her new boss and the RFU’s Referee Manager Richard Glynne-Jones said: "She has a wealth of refereeing experience at the highest level as well as having plenty of experience as a referee trainer. She has also been heavily involved in the Community game for many years."

Her talent really blossomed and she emerged as one of the world’s top female officials as recognised by her selection for three IRB World Cups.

In 2006 she was one of two women referee’s honoured by the then RFU President Bob Rogers for their excellent performances at that years IRB Women's Rugby World Cup held in Edmonton, Canada.

That led to her appearance in last years Women’s IRB Sevens in Dubai and during August she will be officiating at the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup being played in England.

You can buy Women's Rugby World Cup tickets via RFU.com.