Hollie Davidson: 'I'll be the first female referee to officiate a men's Six Nations game'
British referee Hollie Davidson, 33, is set to become the first female referee to officiate a men's Six Nations game on Saturday in Dublin. She spoke about her remarkable journey.
"I probably felt like a sore thumb," says Hollie Davidson, on the eve of becoming the first female referee to officiate a men's Six Nations game. She opened up about her journey and overcoming doubts.
When Davidson started her career in 2015, she faced numerous doubts. "Yeah, I had verbal abuse. The comments were pretty funny at the time. They told me to get a different job. It was all classic," she says.
She also spoke about feeling unsafe after games. "I was given advice on what to do after a game. It was pretty scary. I was 20 years old and sometimes felt really lonely.
"The main thing is that I have a lot of support now. I have a coach, a manager, and a sports psychologist. Now I arrive at a game with at least three colleagues.
Davidson highlighted her biggest achievement, becoming the first female referee to officiate a men's Six Nations game. She also shared her dream, to referee the men's World Cup final.
"I'm refereeing Ireland vs Italy on Saturday. It's an amazing feeling. I've achieved a lot in my career, but this is my biggest achievement," says Davidson.