Scottish Referee Hollie Davidson Set to Make History as First Woman to Officiate Springboks Test
In a momentous occasion for women’s rugby, Scottish referee Hollie Davidson will become the first female match official to oversee a Springboks Test when the world champions face Portugal in their historic inaugural meeting in Bloemfontein this July. The 29-year-old has thoroughly deserved this opportunity after thriving in the highly competitive United Rugby Championship (URC).
The announcement comes as part of World Rugby’s recent unveiling of the match officials for the upcoming mid-year international fixtures. While some of the governing body’s “fan-focused” law amendments, such as the banning of the “crocodile roll” and the “Dupont law,” were well received, the decision to remove the scrum option from free-kicks has left many rugby enthusiasts perplexed.
Premiership and Super Rugby Highlights
Elsewhere in the world of bbc rugby union news, it was a successful week for South Africa’s Bulls, who announced contract extensions for several key players before clinching a hard-fought 40-34 victory over URC table-toppers Glasgow Warriors.
In the Premiership, Saracens edged closer to securing a home semi-final with a convincing 41-20 win over the in-form Bristol Bears, while Northampton Saints became the first team to book their place in the playoffs, thrashing Gloucester 90-0 in a one-sided affair.
The rugby world also witnessed another milestone in the career of veteran All Blacks scrum-half TJ Perenara, who extended his lead as the top try scorer in Super Rugby history by crossing the whitewash against the Blues. However, his Hurricanes side ultimately fell short, losing 31-27 to the table-topping Auckland-based outfit.
Setbacks and Revelations
On the flipside, the Sharks’ red-hot form in the Challenge Cup hit a snag as they fell to a defeat at home against Benetton, while Gloucester’s 90-0 hammering at the hands of Northampton Saints was the second-biggest margin of defeat in the modern Premiership era. Former Springboks hooker Schalk Brits also revealed the “brutal rejection” he received from the Stormers before joining the Bulls in 2019.
With the rugby union news landscape evolving rapidly, this wrap-up provides a comprehensive overview of the week’s key talking points, from historic refereeing milestones to high-scoring clashes and player contract updates that will undoubtedly captivate the sport’s passionate global fanbase.
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