1
Hollie Davidson set to make history with Boks
By PA
Hollie Davidson will make rugby union history on Saturday when she becomes the first woman to referee world champions South Africa in a Test match.
The Scottish official will take charge of the Springboks’ clash against Portugal in Bloemfontein.
“I think it will be a really energetic game at altitude, so that is a challenge in itself, but I think the occasion will be fantastic,” Davidson told Scottish Rugby following her appointment to the fixture.
“Sometimes when you get these appointments you are a little taken aback, so it is good to always reflect on where you started to where you are now.
“I very much see this as part of the journey to getting to the World Cup in 2027, so a good stepping stone.”
It comes just five months after she was the first female referee to be part of an on-pitch officiating team for a men’s Six Nations fixture.
Davidson was one of the assistant referees when England met Wales at Twickenham in February.
She controlled Portugal’s encounter against Italy in 2022, meanwhile, and refereed Canada versus Romania in Ottawa last weekend.
Davidson is also scheduled to referee the Pacific Nations Cup Test between Japan and the United States in Saitama on September 7.
South Africa have never met Portugal before, and they go into the game – their final fixture before the Rugby Championship – following a drawn Test series against Ireland.
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has made wholesale changes from the side beaten by Ireland in Durban, including starts for uncapped forwards Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar and Phepsi Buthelezi.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
English club target Liam Williams for Premiership return
3
Rassie Erasmus holds the solution to England's Jamie George conundrum
4
The Springboks have something you don't have
5
Latest Comments
I agree with a lot of this. Especially changing the contract side of AB rugby - even if the current structure is not the main reason Razor and others before him keep selecting players past their prime and only introducing new ones when forced to by injury. Then they act all surprised when a new player lives up to their potential and performs! Deification of good older players is a problem because, like Foster, it implies they have secret knowledge that plebs don't - despite the evidence before our eyes. Razor's first year has been a pretty big average and one hopes he gets some courage back around selection and game plan from lessons learned this year. Not hopeful though based on the selection for Italy. If they win well, (as they should) he will tout it as justification for his persistence this year but the reality is a "second" team from the squad would probably do the job.
Go to commentsIrish injury count is going up by the minute.
Go to comments