At 29, Mui Thomas is one of 20 known people worldwide diagnosed with harlequin ichthyosis, a rare congenital skin condition which affects an estimated one in every 300,000 people. She is at risk from brittle bones and sun exposure, yet after discovering at school that sport gave her an opportunity “to fit in”, she became the first person with the disorder to qualify as a rugby referee. A familiar face on pitches throughout Hong Kong, she discusses how sport’s positive influence on her life and the valuable lessons she’s learnt from her time as a referee.
“I started out by helping at rugby clubs—both at club level and at the Hong Kong Rugby Club. It wasn’t long before I wanted something more and refereeing was suggested,” she says, adding: “The rest is history.” Mui shares her life lessons below:
