Cox makes history as first woman to referee Premiership clubs

History will be made at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday as Sara Cox becomes the first woman to referee a match between Premiership clubs when she takes charge of Wasps against Northampton.

Cox is the Rugby Football Union’s first centrally contracted female referee and this Premiership Rugby Cup appointment indicates it will not be long before the 28-year-old takes charge of a Premiership game.

The Devonian is also to run the line for the first time in a men’s Test as Hong Kong take on Germany in the Rugby World Cup qualifying repechage in Marseille on Nov 11.

Before that, Cox will take charge of one of the most prestigious women’s fixtures of the Test window, as Six Nations Grand Slam holders France take on world champions New Zealand in Toulon on Nov 9.

Cox is one of a trio of female referees who have been breaking

Trailblazer: Sara Cox will officiate the match between Wasps and Northampton down barriers in rugby. In October last year, Spaniard Alhambra Nievas took charge of Finland against Norway, becoming the first woman to officiate a men’s Test in Europe.

Former Ireland women’s international Joy Neville was the first woman in the middle for Challenge Cup, Pro14 and Welsh Premier Division fixtures.

This week looks set to be a landmark moment for female officials in the English game as in addition to Cox, three more women take senior roles in the Premiership Rugby Cup.

Clare Daniels will be an assistant referee in Bristol’s clash with Gloucester at Ashton Gate tomorrow, while Danae Zamboulis is the citing officer for Leicester versus Worcester on Saturday. Claire Hodnett will be the television match official for Harlequins v Newcastle on Sunday.