Six Nations history making referee Hollie Davidson reveals 'awful abuse'

Wednesday, 11 February 2026 at 12:34

bySteven Smith

This weekend, Hollie Davidson will become the first woman to referee a men’s Six Nations match when she oversees Ireland v Italy in Dublin.

It’s a landmark appointment — but one earned the hard way.

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“The stuff shouted from the sidelines was ridiculous”

Davidson began refereeing in 2015 and stepped into the men’s professional game six years later. From the outset, she says abuse was a constant.

“The stuff shouted from the sidelines was ridiculous,” she admitted. “It was all about where I should be instead of a pitch… all the classics.”

“There would be indications of where I should go after the game for players to do whatever they wanted with me.”

Even as she climbed the ladder, the hostility didn’t disappear.

After last season’s European Challenge Cup final, a controversial head contact call triggered online backlash that spiralled beyond rugby.

“I made a wrong call… and my name was being pulled through the mud and then my family received abuse,” she said. “It really challenged me when I thought I was causing my family pain.”

Davidson accepts scrutiny is part of elite officiating — but worries about where the line is heading.

“You have to accept this is part and parcel of our job. But I hope we don’t get to a point where the only people left at the top are the people that can hack it. Because then we don’t have the best officials, we just have the people with thicker skins.”

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“You either decide: ‘This isn’t for me’… or you grow”

The abuse hasn’t been limited to the men’s game.

During a fiery Women's Six Nations clash in 2022, she endured a torrid afternoon after missing two major decisions.

“I wasn’t on the money and I received a lot of abuse and hatred,” she said. “We were escorted off the pitch, we had stuff thrown at us and were spat on.”

That moment became a crossroads.

“You either decide: ‘This isn’t for me, bye-bye,’ or you say: ‘OK, I want to be at the top end.’ I took that choice.”

Her ultimate ambition? A men’s Rugby World Cup final.

“I need to do well in the Six Nations… As long as I keep the head down, keep growing and reflecting, I’ll be in a good position.”

On Saturday in Dublin, Davidson won’t just be refereeing a rugby match.

She’ll be proving she belongs there.

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Guinness Men’s Six Nations 2026 Match Officials Confirmed

This guide provides the full Men’s Six Nations 2026 fixtures, including venues, dates, and the complete list of match officials for each game.

Round 2 Fixtures – Six Nations 2026

Ireland vs Italy
Aviva Stadium, Dublin – Saturday, 14 February 2026

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Luc Ramos (FFR)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
FPRO: Tual Trainini (FFR)

Scotland vs England
Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh – Saturday, 14 February 2026

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
Assistant Referee 1: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistant Referee 2: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Wales vs France
Principality Stadium, Cardiff – Sunday, 15 February 2026

Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant Referee 1: Christophe Ridley (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR)
FPRO: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Round 3 Fixtures – Six Nations 2026

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

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistant Referee 1: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Assistant Referee 2: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
FPRO: Mike Adamson (SRU)

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

Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Leal (RFU)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

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

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
FPRO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

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!