Hollie Davidson stood down from Six Nations action this weekend

Saturday, 21 February 2026 at 13:12

byRugby Rucker

As Round Three of the Six Nations gets underway this morning, many fans have been asking the same question: where is Hollie Davidson?

Watch the Guinness Six Nations at your local Greene King sports pub.

It was a landmark afternoon in Dublin earlier in the championship when Davidson took charge of Ireland v Italy, becoming the first woman to referee a men’s fixture in Six Nations history.

In front of a packed Aviva Stadium, she handled a tense encounter between Ireland and Italy with authority and calm assurance.

She showed early confidence in big moments — including a decisive first-half sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on — and communicated clearly throughout a high-pressure clash that was played on fine margins.

Join RUCK’s Instagram broadcast channel and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.

As with any Test match, some breakdown decisions sparked debate, but her overall game management and composure drew widespread praise across the rugby world.

However, her absence this weekend should not come as a surprise.

Six Nations match official appointments are decided before the tournament kicks off, with referees and assistant referees allocated to fixtures well in advance as part of the competition’s overall planning.

Davidson was not scheduled for Round Two and also misses Round Four, with her appearances locked in prior to the championship getting underway.

She will return for Super Saturday, where she is set to run the line as an assistant referee for France v England — another major appointment in what continues to be a significant Six Nations campaign for the Scottish official.

LATEST SIX NATIONS NEWS

SIX NATIONS REFEREE'S

Round 3 Fixtures – Six Nations 2026

England vs Ireland
Allianz Stadium, Twickenham – Saturday, 21 February 2026

Wales vs Scotland
Principality Stadium, Cardiff – Saturday, 21 February 2026

France vs Italy
Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille – Sunday, 22 February 2026

Round 4 Fixtures – Six Nations 2026

Ireland vs Wales
Aviva Stadium, Dublin – Friday, 6 March 2026

Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
Assistant Referee 2: Damian Schneider (UAR)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
FPRO: Tual Trainini (FFR)

Scotland vs France
Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh – Saturday, 7 March 2026

Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)
FPRO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

Italy vs England
Stadio Olimpico, Rome – Saturday, 7 March 2026

Referee: Luc Ramos (FFR)
Assistant Referee 1: Nic Berry (RA)
Assistant Referee 2: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
FPRO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Round 5 Fixtures – Six Nations 2026

Ireland vs Scotland
Aviva Stadium, Dublin – Saturday, 14 March 2026

Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Angus Gardner (RA)
Assistant Referee 2: Damian Schneider (UAR)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
FPRO: Ian Tempest (RFU)

Wales vs Italy
Principality Stadium, Cardiff – Saturday, 14 March 2026

Referee: Christophe Ridley (FFR)
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

France vs England
Stade de France, Paris – Saturday, 14 March 2026

Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
Assistant Referee 1: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
Assistant Referee 2: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Quiz: Name these 10 retro rugby players

From jaw-dropping tries to unforgettable moments (and yes, some questionable haircuts), these players defined a golden era of the game. If their names don’t instantly come to mind, we suggest a quick trip to YouTube to jog your memory. Trust us, it’s worth it.

Ready to test your knowledge? Let’s see if you’ve still got it. Good luck!