How referee Hollie Davidson overcame rugby ordeal to make Six Nations history

Come this weekend, only those who are purposefully ignoring the sports agenda won’t be familiar with the name Hollie Davidson.

When Davidson takes the field at Twickenham this Saturday to see England play Wales, she will become the first female referee to be a member of an officiating crew in a men’s Six Nations match.

However, this is not her maiden voyage. The Aberdeen native made history last year when she led the first all-female Challenge Cup officiating crew. Sara Cox, the world’s first professional female rugby union referee, was one of four women who aided her.After receiving an MBE for her contributions to rugby union, Cox expressed her desire to have helped “pave the way” for future female referees. Hollie Davidson appears.

Davidson overcame several challenges to become a referee. She played for Scotland’s U20 squad from 2010 to 2012 and led the women’s rugby team while pursuing an MA in economic history at Edinburgh University.However, Davidson’s career as a player came to an end before it had started, in contrast to her rapidly growing career as a referee.

The Scottish player was unable to represent her country in a Test match against the Netherlands due to a dislocated shoulder one week before to her first senior cap being awarded.

This chronic ailment ultimately put a stop to Davidson’s boyhood ambition, but it also served as an unexpected turning point for her career as a referee.”I felt completely destroyed. The biggest thing is when you think you’re going to receive your first hat. It seemed like my hopes had collapsed around me when I received the call to cancel, Davidson told World Rugby.

However, this turned out to be something of an unanticipated course correction rather than the “be all and end all.”

Following this, Davidson requested that Scottish Rugby change their referee courses from Sundays to Saturdays, as they conflicted with her women’s Premiership fixtures.

Davidson picked up the whistle while still a player for Murrayfield Wanderers and never looked back.She gave up a job in finance, but refereeing offered her an unexpected chance and has taught her more than simply the game’s rules.

“During my journey from playing to refereeing, my relationship with failure changed completely,” she said to Premiership Rugby.

“You have to acknowledge that failure will always have certain components. I now view failure above all things as a tool for personal development.

The Scottish player is more ready to identify herself as a “female in rugby that’s opening doors” for others to get involved, brushing off the “hero” label that many have bestowed upon her.

“The more we can support those who wish to give back and who have ended their careers or had injuries while playing,