VIDEO: Trailblazer Hollie talks about highs and lows of refereeing
VIDEO: The list of first on Scottish referee Hollie Davidsons’ resume keeps mounting and if you don’t know the name by now, you are most certainly not a rugby fanatic.
Within a few years, she refereed both the finals of World Cup 7s and World Cup 2021, within mere weeks of each other.
With a CV including many ‘firsts’, Davidson has not only reached the top of the women’s game but is also a trailblazer in the men’s game.
She became the first woman to hold the position of assistant referee during the Rugby Championship.
She was the first female referee to be part of the on-field officiating team in a Six Nations match, she was an assistant referee for England versus Wales, at Twickenham and was the main whistler when Portugal took on the world champion Springboks in the Bloemfontein in July.
Last weekend the Scot, 31, ran the line for Australia’s clash with South Africa in Brisbane in the second round of the Rugby Championship.
But is hasn’t been all sunshine and blue skies for the petit referee with the ice-blue eyes.
Recently in an interview on World Rugby’s podcast ‘Stronger than You Think’ she revealed just how eye-opening her first few years were on the officiating scene.
From hate via her social media channels to being spat at after a game, she has learned to grow a thick skin and take it all in as part of the job.
A job she continues to be positive about, in order to get more girls involved in the game.
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“When I started I very much took what happened on the field home with me.
“I didn’t know how to cope with it.
“When it was announced that I was the first Scottish professional female referee, it was all very positive in the media and I thought ‘this is fantastic’.
“But then my first 15’s international, I gave a red card for a leading forearm and that positivity soon turned into huge negativity.
“As time went on, I ended up going down rabbit holes on social media platforms and seeing all the negative comments and I would take that energy with me for the next two, or three days at home which wasn’t good.
“Whereas now my social media is pretty much locked down as to who can’t contact me and who can.
“Before if I’d seen negative comments or abuse, I would cling to them. I would remember them and wear them so heavily.
“Now I try and put as little weight on the comments. Yeah, I read them, sometimes they are funny. But I try and brush them off and move on.”
Davidson reflected on one of the toughest days at the office she has had up to now.
The lowest point came in 2022 when she officiated the final of the women’s Six Nations between France and England, a game the Red Roses won 24-12.
“I prepped the same I felt I was working hard around the park, but things were not clicking.
“I missed a big decision which probably had a big impact on…two big decisions against the French which probably had an impact on the outcome.
“And I received a lot of abuse, hatred, I was spat off the park, stuff being checked at us, we were security escorted off and then back to the hotel.
“At that point, you do question your involvement in things, you question whether is it worth it. I reflected, I can easily say yes I made mistakes in the game but I don’t think I ever expected that as a result of a game of rugby.
“And then sometimes I look at the bigger picture and say I am doing this for women.
“When I get stopped at WXV tournaments for photos or autographs, I realise that’s why we are doing this.
“That’s why we accept the criticism, that’s why we put ourselves out there week after week because we want more girls involved in our game.
“The more that happens, the more I have done my job.”
Davidson is very focused on her next big accomplishment.
“I would love to be at the men’s World Cup in four year’s time down in Australia.
“And do the women’s World Cup in 2025.”
