Leah Berard

Background

Berard was born in Woodruff, Wisconsin and moved to Stevens Point, Wisconsin when she was four years old.

Education

She lived there until she graduated from high school, going on to pursue a Bachelor in both English and Spanish at the University of Wisconsin – Louisiana Crosse.

Career

She played rugby throughout college at inside center and was president of her university"s club team her junior and senior years. During her time as an undergrad she also played for the Wisconsin U-23 select side team After college, Berard moved to Minneapolis and played with the Minnesota Valkyries Women"s Rugby Team, but was forced to resign due to neck injuries.

Leah stepped away from rugby for a few years to attend graduate school at the University of Saint Thomas, getting an Master of Arts in English.

lieutenant was only until after graduate school that Leah picked up the whistle and came back to rugby as a referee. Berard is now focused on elevating herself within the international level

In December 2011, her first international appointment, she traveled to Portuguese Elizabeth, South Africa to serve as an Assistant Referee for the Institutional Review Board Sevens World Series. This successful appearance helped secure her a spot in the first iRB sanctioned Women"s Sevens Challenge Cup in Hong Kong in March 2012.

She also earned the opportunity to officiate the Cup Final – Australia versus

England. Most recently, she was named as an iRB Women's Sevens Panel member in August 2013, her second season on the panel.

Achievements

• Berard has steadily worked her way up through the ranks of the Midwest, achieving her Territorial Grade through refereeing Midwest Men's Division 1 Rugby. Her biggest accomplishment thus far has been officiating the Women's Rugby 7s World Cup Final in Russia in June 2013.