Groundbreaking ref Hollie Davidson in contention for another career 'first'

BKT United Rugby Championship Head of Match Officials Tappe Henning believes that there are more firsts heading Hollie Davidson’s way over the next 12 to 18 months as she continues to knock down barriers.

In February, Davidson became the first woman to take charge of a men’s Six Nations game when she was appointed to Ireland’s clash with Italy and a month later became the first female to referee in a Top 14 match between ASM Clermont-Auvergne and Lyon

The 33-year-old from Aboyne in Aberdeenshire last season became the first woman to referee an EPCR Final when she took charge of the Challenge Cup Final between Bath and Lyon, and Henning believes she hasn’t reached her ceiling yet.

“Holly is growing like all referees, and she’s getting to a point where there’s going to be a lot of firsts for Holly in the years to come. Next year, it’s a World Cup year, and we are quite excited,” said Henning.

“Our stronghold is within the international game as well, and she’s highly rated by World Rugby as well. As a competition referee in URC, we consider Holly for any of the games. She’s capable and what we call an ‘any-game, anytime referee’.

“That’s where she sits at the moment. She is quite talented and the URC as a competition, and is very proud of all the achievements and all the barriers that she’s breaking down in the game for female officials in the men’s environment. And she’s very special to have in URC.”

Davidson was on the line for last weekend’s Champions Cup final between Bordeaux Bègles and Leinster and will again be running touch as AR1 for Saturday night’s URC quarter-final between Leinster and the Lions.

And she could be in the middle for the URC Grand Final if Glasgow Warriors aren’t involved, according to Henning, who says Davidson is in the competition’s top six officials.

“Holly is in that group that we will consider for all our play-off games, and it may be that Holly will be considered for a semi-final or the Grand Final, depending on the teams involved.

“If Glasgow is involved in a semi-final, Holly will not be involved in that semi-final, but if it’s another semi-final that involves two other teams, she could be appointed to that game.

“She is part of the group of match officials that’s been identified as good enough for our final. And as we progress, depending on the team that plays in that, the appropriate appointment will be made, and she will be considered for the semi-finals and finals.

“She’s been performing in the top six of our group and is well respected by the teams here as a referee, not as a female or a woman, which is nice to get to that, and she’s got a lot of respect with the players as well,” he added.

Meanwhile, the full roster of match officials for this weekend’s URC quarter-finals has been confirmed.

Wales’ Adam Jones will take charge of the first game on Friday between Glasgow and Connacht, while the three games on Saturday are to be reffed by Andrea Piardi (Bulls v Munster), Eoghan Cross (Stormers v Cardiff) and Sam Grove-White (Leinster v Lions).