Sara Cox:
Cox, a pioneer in the world of rugby, has been honored with an MBE as the first-ever female professional rugby union referee.
Hailing from Exeter, this 33-year-old made history in 2021 by becoming the first woman to officiate a men’s Premiership Rugby match. Her remarkable journey began in 2018 when she broke barriers as the first female referee to oversee a men’s top-tier game in England during a Premiership Rugby Cup match.
Having officiated at the last two Olympic Games and three Women’s World Cups, Cox’s exceptional contributions to the sport have earned her a place in the King’s Birthday Honours list, where she was recognized for her invaluable services to the game.
“I’m really proud, there’s a lot of years and a lot of hard work and tears that have gone into it,” said Cox, who turned professional as a referee in 2016 after injury cut short her playing career.
“There’s been a lot of times that I have stood there and said ‘I’m not sure that this is the pathway I want to take any more’, but I’ve stuck with it, I’ve brought myself out of that and really been determined to keep going with it and keep achieving stuff.
“To get an MBE really nicely encompasses all the hard work that I’ve gone through and some of the sacrifices that I’ve had to make as well.”
