Hollie Davidson Makes Six Nations History as First Female Referee
Scottish match official Hollie Davidson is set to create a landmark moment in rugby union history this weekend. The 33-year-old will take charge of the men's Six Nations clash between Ireland and Italy at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, becoming the first female referee appointed to officiate a men's game in the championship's storied history.
A Rapid Rise Through the Ranks
Davidson's appointment continues her remarkable ascent through the refereeing ranks. Having taken up officiating in 2015 after a dislocated shoulder disrupted her playing career prospects with Scotland, she has quickly established herself as one of the game's most respected officials.
Her credentials are already impressive. Davidson has overseen two Rugby World Cup finals, including England's victory over Canada at a sold-out Twickenham last September. This followed her inaugural appointment to the tournament decider in Auckland in 2022.
With these back-to-back World Cup final appointments, Davidson joined an exclusive club. She stands alongside South African Andre Watson as the only match officials to referee consecutive Rugby World Cup finals. Watson oversaw men's title deciders in 1999 and 2003, though Englishman Ed Morrison had previously whistled both the 1995 men's and 1998 women's World Cup finals.
Breaking New Ground in Professional Rugby
Davidson has been breaking barriers across both the men's and women's games for several years. Her first appointment to a men's professional match came in early 2021, marking a significant milestone in her career.
She subsequently made history again in 2022 by leading the first all-female team of match officials for a men's Test match during a fixture between Portugal and Italy. Last year, Davidson oversaw Bath's Challenge Cup final victory over Lyon in another high-profile appointment that demonstrated her growing reputation within the sport.
Davidson's journey began with an assistant referee role at the 2017 Women's World Cup. She experienced her first Test match with the whistle little more than a year later and has since accumulated extensive experience at the highest levels of international rugby.
The Officiating Team for Ireland vs Italy
For this historic Six Nations encounter, Davidson will be supported by an experienced team of fellow Test officials. Matthew Carley of England and Luc Ramos of France will serve as assistant referees, while Ian Tempest (England) will act as Television Match Official (TMO).
Tual Trainini of France completes the officiating team as Foul Play Review Officer (FPRO). This experienced group will ensure the match is officiated to the highest standards as Davidson makes her championship debut in this groundbreaking role.
The Ireland vs Italy match represents another significant step forward for gender equality in rugby officiating. Davidson's appointment follows her previous barrier-breaking achievements and reinforces her position as a trailblazer in the sport.
