Sara Cox is hoping to become the first woman to be appointed to the panel to referee games at National Two level.
The 23-year-old from Broadclyst currently officiates at National Three South West level, as well as on the IRB Women's Sevens World Series.
But she is hoping to be promoted to take charge of games at Exmouth's level, and is due to referee Taunton's match against Launceston in that league this weekend to see if she will be accepted.
It is a busy weekend for the Coastal Waste Recycling marketing executive, who flies to Dubai on Sunday for the next leg of the sevens series.
She travelled to Australia last month for the start of men's series, having previously acted as a touch judge.
But she is hoping to be able to take the next step up the ladder in the 15-a-side game as well.
Cox said: "I am now part of the RFU group appointments, which is National Three South West.
"That's where I'm at at the moment, but what I'm pushing for, and I have a couple of appointments coming up, which is the level up and called panel.
"That's where you're at the level of Exmouth, Taunton and Launceston (National Two South). On Saturday I've got Taunton versus Launceston and when I get back from Dubai I have Leicester Lions against someone up there.
"The hope is for me to step onto the panel. If I do manage that I will be the first woman to do it as a referee – that would be pretty amazing."
Cox is also enjoying being a referee on the sevens circuit, which is taking her around the world to blow the whistle in some exotic locations.
"In the past I have been an assistant referee, and not heavily involved in the circuit, but this is the first year I'm a fully-fledged panel member on the IRB women's sevens circuit," she said.
"The men's and women's sevens split after Dubai and we go to China, although I'm not involved at that one. In February we go to Atlanta then Brazil and then there is Amsterdam and another European country, which is yet to be confirmed."
Cox took up refereeing six years ago after deciding to call time on her playing career.
And she has not looked back since, working her way up through the various levels to the fifth tier of English rugby at the moment.
"I used to play for Exeter Saracens, then I got a bit too old and went to Cullompton," she said.
"I trialled for England and got injured and by that stage I had had enough of being snapped in half by people who were that little bit better than me.
"I looked at what I could do next and I couldn't go into coaching because I didn't have enough experience. I used to be the referee's worst nightmare so I thought I'd have a go at that.
"I went and did my entry level course in 2007, completed that and completed my level three, which was a natural progression, got involved with Devon Referee's Society and the rest is history."
And Cox is grateful to her employers at Coastal Waste Recycling for giving her the time off she needs to officiate around the world.
"They've been as good as gold. I've asked for a fair amount of time off and it's usually 10 days at a time, but they've said 'no problem, we'll support you with that'," she said.
