URC head of match officials Tappe Henning says referee Hollie Davidson has earned her place among the competition’s elite referees.
The URC has identified eight referees for its seven playoff matches, with Davidson among those under consideration for semi-finals and potentially the final, depending on team neutrality.
Henning said Davidson’s rise had been based purely on performance.
“The teams see her as a referee, they don’t see her as a female referee. It’s nice to get to that point.
“She’s capable and able – what we call an ‘any game, any time’ referee. The URC is really proud of all her achievements and the barriers she is breaking down.”
Davidson refereed the Test between the Springboks and Portugal in Bloemfontein in July 2024 and became the first female referee to officiate a men’s Six Nations match earlier this year.
Henning said URC referee performances were measured extensively.
“We review decision-making accuracy across set-piece, tackle area, penalty kicks and free kicks,” he explained. “Early reviews show we are broadly on par with last season, while TMO accuracy has improved significantly.”
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Henning believes balancing youth with experience is vital for the long-term health of the competition.
“We are in the process of introducing younger and new referees into the competition. That naturally creates some variance in accuracy because they are gaining experience.
“We need to ensure the longevity of the URC by developing a consistent group of referees for the future.”
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Photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images
The post Tappe proud of trailblazing Hollie appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
URC head of match officials Tappe Henning says referee Hollie Davidson has earned her place among the competition’s elite referees.
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