Former referee JP Doyle has criticised Hollie Davidson’s handling of Leinster’s URC clash with the Stormers, arguing she failed to stamp out player dissent and made the wrong call on a dangerous challenge.
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Writing in The Irish Times, Doyle pointed to recent comments from URC referees chief Tappe Henning, who said backchat would no longer be tolerated. Doyle welcomed the move but said Davidson did not apply a similar standard during the match.
“She unwisely permitted constant questioning of her decisions,” Doyle wrote, adding that while Davidson still has ambitions of officiating at the Rugby World Cup, “there is work to be done.”
Doyle was particularly critical of Stormers forward Ruan Ackermann’s clearout on Leinster hooker Rónan Kelleher, describing it as “a hard shoulder at maximum force, directly to the hooker’s head.”
He argued the incident was “screaming for a straight, permanent red card” rather than a yellow card that was later upgraded to a 20-minute red.
“If this extremely high level of danger is only yellow, then the game has a huge problem,” Doyle said. He also warned that allowing players guilty of serious foul play to return after 20 minutes is “effectively a licence to assault” and “does nought for player welfare in terms of brain injury.”
Doyle further criticised the atmosphere surrounding the contest, citing “an unacceptable fracas in the tunnel” at half-time.
He concluded that referees should explain decisions clearly but avoid prolonged discussions with captains, warning that players often seek to “create doubt in the referee’s head for the next time.”
Hollie Davidson facts:
Hollie Davidson facts:
1. She Made Six Nations History
In 2024, Davidson became the first woman to referee a men’s Six Nations match — one of rugby union’s most prestigious tournaments, featuring England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. It was a watershed moment not just for her career, but for the sport itself.
2. She Didn’t Start Out as a Referee
Davidson originally played rugby growing up in Scotland and at university level. Like many elite officials, she transitioned into refereeing after her playing career — discovering a talent for leadership and game management.
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3. She Worked in Banking Before Rugby
Before becoming a full-time referee, Davidson worked in banking after studying economic history at the University of Edinburgh. She previously held a role with J.P. Morgan before committing fully to officiating.
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4. She Became Scotland’s First Full-Time Female Pro Referee
In 2017, she made history by becoming Scotland’s first full-time professional female referee — a major milestone in Scottish Rugby’s development pathway.
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