The 33-year-old Scot has overcome misogyny and abuse and is justifiably proud of becoming the first woman to take charge of a men’s Six Nations match
“I
probably stood out like a sore thumb,” says Hollie Davidson as she reflects on the long hard road she has travelled to reach the point where, on Saturday, in Dublin, she will become the first woman to referee a men’s Six Nations game. Davidson leans forward in her chair and ticks off some of the doubts she has had to overcome amid derision and prejudice.
“At the beginning,” the 33‑year‑old says, “the big thing was, always, physically can she do it? Will she be able to keep up with the men’s game? What happens if she gets knocked over? Is her rugby knowledge there? How will players and fans react to her? That sexism is still there at points, but people now just want to see a game being well refereed.”
There was no such acceptance at the start of her career in 2015. She nods when asked if she was verbally abused. “Yes. Straight off the bat. The stuff shouted from the sidelines was ridiculous. It was all about where I should be instead of a pitch or that I should be doing other things with my Saturday than refereeing a game. All the classics.”
