Davidson on All Blacks appointment: 'I'm definitely trying to see it as another 80 minutes of rugby'

Fresh from refereeing her second Women’s World Cup final between England and Canada back in September, Hollie Davidson will take charge of the All Blacks’ last remaining fixture of their northern tour when they take on Wales this weekend in Cardiff.

The Scot will be the first woman to officiate a New Zealand men’s game and follows in a long line of ‘firsts’ after she became the Scottish rugby union’s first full-time professional women’s referee in 2017.

The official admits when she first started out she had the goal of refereeing in the men’s Premiership in Scotland within two years, but since then her achievements and aspirations have grown to the present day where she finds herself involved in the Autumn Nations Series.

As an Emirates World Rugby referee, Davidson gets to travel the world and despite the perks of working at the heights of the global game, the 33-year-old admits the highs come off the back of a lot of hard work.

“It felt very special to be named referee for the (Women’s World Cup) final again. It’s a lot of hard work doing this role and over the last two years I’ve been trying to juggle both the men’s game and the women’s game.

“I love the women’s space. I love the environment. I love the ethos. I love the positivity. My family was there (for the World Cup final) this time around. It was just so special because my family couldn’t make it down to New Zealand (for the last Women’s World Cup). And obviously what we do, we don’t get home games.

“So you’re asking a lot of your family to come and support and travel a lot to be there. But both my mum and dad were in the crowd for the final, and I remember talking to my dad a few days later and he said that he hadn’t eaten all day because he was so nervous. It probably puts into perspective how nerve wracking it is to be a supporter of a referee.”

With officiating the men’s and women’s games, Davidson admits there are differences involved.

“Although it’s the same game, it’s probably played differently. And both present completely different challenges. So in the men’s game, especially around the breakdown, it’s very combative, very sort of jackal, tackle heavy and then very set piece focused.”

To be the first woman to referee an All Blacks game is another achievement along the way for Davidson in a so far hugely successful officiating career.

“It kind of feels full circle, to be honest. To now be out there and refereeing Wales, New Zealand feels very special.

“I’m definitely trying to see it as another 80 minutes of rugby. The difference probably is that, when I’m reffing South Africa or Italy I have a lot of engagement with those players through the United Rugby Championship.

“This is probably be one instance where there’ll be less familiar faces on the pitch. I know a lot of the Welsh boys from whether they’re playing Cardiff, Scarlets, Ospreys or Dragons or in the English teams but I won’t know quite as many players, from the All Blacks so that will be the only real sort of difference for me going into this game is how do I engage with them? How do I chat to the captain? How do I get him to engage with me?

“For me, it will be around staying focused. And this is probably a fixture where you have to stay focused before you blow the first whistle. So I’m excited to be out there, It will be very special for myself, my family, and hopefully it’s a great occasion.”

As a hardworking, ambitious character, Davidson has goals to go further in the men’s game and to referee in future tournaments in the next 12-24 months.

“I think the next goal would be to do a men’s Six Nations game. But I’m almost trying not to think too far ahead. I need to be able to stay present, stay focused on this November Test window.

“And if I do that without the vision of what might come later, I’m able to give that my all. And if I give that my all, then, hopefully I put myself in a good position to be selected for the panel for the Six Nations.

“And thereafter, I just have to keep working hard, stay focused, and, hopefully in some capacity, I’ll be on the plane to Australia 2027.”