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Sara Cox is no stranger to making history during her remarkable rise through the rugby refereeing ranks.
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Her latest and probably highest-profile step, came on Saturday afternoon at the Twickenham Stoop where she became the first woman to referee a Gallagher Premiership clash.
And Cox has since told BBC Radio 5 Live about her experience.
“I wasn’t really prepared for what was about to happen – the reaction from people,” Cox said.
“It is something I don’t think I will ever replicate.”
Cox said it was “a good day in the office” since there has since been little post-match debate about her decisions.
She jokingly added that players were confused about how to replace the term ‘sir’ when speaking to her.
“I had a couple of them correct themselves,” she commented.
“They said sir, then ‘oh, hang on…Ref.’
“It doesn’t bother me. I’m still happy for someone to open a line of communication with a respectful word at the start; it’s not about gender for me.”
Both clubs presented her with a signed shirt following the match while the wider rugby world has reacted extremely positively to her Premiership debut.
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?????? ??? ???? ?? ???:@SaraCoxRef making history ?
Massive congrats on becoming the first woman to ref a #GallagherPrem game ?#HARvWOR pic.twitter.com/mVkjCSk7dP
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) September 25, 2021
Harlequins edged a thrilling nine-try contest 35-29 and Cox – whose debut was delayed from June when Covid caused Gloucester’s trip to Sixways to be cancelled – impressed with a calm display which included the award of a yellow card to Warriors’ winger Noah Heward for an aerial challenge on Tyrone Green.
This weekend Sara Cox will become the first woman ever to referee a Premiership rugby fixture ?
Hear from Sara ?
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) September 22, 2021
Cox’s rise to the English club game’s elite level began in 2016 when she became the first female referee to be centrally contracted by the RFU and the world’s first professional female rugby referee.
In the same year, after taking charge of the Women’s Premiership final between Richmond and Saracens, the Devon-based whistler appeared in the Rio Olympics’ sevens competition.
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Congratulations to Sara Cox who becomes the first female to referee a @premrugby match today ? pic.twitter.com/c6LRA75e3W
— Worcester Warriors (@WorcsWarriors) September 25, 2021
In February 2017, Cox became the first female to appear in National One – English rugby’s third tier -before officiating at the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Ireland.
More history followed in March 2018 when Cox became the first woman to referee a RFU Championship match – Cornish Pirates versus Doncaster Knights.
The moment history was made…@SaraCoxRef, you're a legend ?#GallagherPrem highlights and #HARvWOR full match replay ?? https://t.co/wgZ8L7g1Kj pic.twitter.com/l0QMvf9kdk
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) September 26, 2021
After appearing at the rugby sevens event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games Cox’s next step up the domestic ladder in November 2018 saw her become the first female to control a match between two top flight teams, when Wasps hosted Northampton in the Premiership Rugby Cup.
? The history maker.
? Congratulations @SaraCoxRef on becoming the first woman to ref a #GallagherPrem game, we're proud to play our part in the story. #COYQ #HARvWOR pic.twitter.com/1sRlPLb3cA
— Harlequins ? (@Harlequins) September 25, 2021
Her men’s rugby international debut came in the same month when she ran the line when Hong Kong met Germany, and between Kenya and Germany.
She then officiated a women’s international match between France and New Zealand before in August 2020 becoming the first women to officiate in the Gallagher Premiership when she was one of Wayne Barnes’ assistants for Bath against Wasps.
Cox received plenty of support from some prominent names.
This has made me quite emotional! ?. I couldn’t be prouder of @SaraCoxRef … someone who quietly continues to achieve so much. This is a massive milestone and it’s just simply brilliant! https://t.co/T3WSMaqqti
— Danielle (Nolli) Waterman (@nolli15) September 26, 2021
These included Exeter Chief Dean Mumm whose message read: “Great to see, well done!”
And a Premiership football ref:
Many congratulations Sara ??
— Next Gen Adult Models ? (@NextGenXmodels) September 27, 2021
And a Six Nations presenter
Such a wonderful moment for the sport and a great personal achievement.
— Gabby Logan (@GabbyLogan) September 26, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Bell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
13 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
13 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to comments