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Hollie Davidson and Joy Neville set for referee and TMO roles in PRO14 first

Hollie Davidson named as referee for Munster's PRO14 game with Benetton on Friday with Joy Neville serving as television match official; it will be the first men's professional match where both roles are filled by female officials

Hollie Davidson
Image: Hollie Davidson will take charge of Friday's game at Thomond Park

Hollie Davidson will referee Friday's PRO14 game between Munster and Benetton with Joy Neville serving as television match official.

It will be the first men's professional match in which both roles are filled by female officials.

Former Scotland U20 scrum-half Davidson was set to take charge of a European Challenge Cup game in January and a PRO14 fixture last month but both were postponed.

Davidson has refereed in the Women's Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Women's Six Nations and was slated for the Tokyo Olympics prior to its postponement.

Friday's match will be the first time she officiates a top-tier men's game.

Referee Joy Neville
Image: Joy Neville has worked as a TMO during this year's Six Nations

"Our elite referee pathway has greatly improved in recent years thanks to the efforts of our unions working together and it is very rewarding to see Hollie Davidson earn the right to make her debut this Friday after the disappointment of the postponement a few weeks ago," said Greg Garner, the PRO14's elite referee manager.

"The elite pathway has been put in place to identify match officials with the potential to referee at Test level and as a result we have now seen Andy Brace (IRFU) and Mike Adamson (SRU) appointed for Six Nations games this season.

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"In addition, Joy Neville (IRFU) has also performed the role of TMO in rounds one and four of the Six Nations.

"It is also ground-breaking for the sport that Joy has been selected as the TMO for the game. We have a competitive group of referees now and it is great to see younger officials pushing through looking to hold the whistle on the biggest occasions."

Former Ireland international Neville officiated her first PRO14 game three years ago.

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