Trailblazing referee Sara Cox confirmed for Community Game Conference

Pictured: Referee Sara Cox during an Under-20's Six Nations match between Scotland and Italy at the Hive Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Scottish Rugby has confirmed that trailblazing referee Sara Cox MBE will join the speaker line-up for this Friday’s (22 May) Community Game Conference at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.

Cox became the world’s first professional female rugby referee in 2016 and has continually broken new ground throughout an international career spanning more than a decade.

Cox officiated at five Women’s Rugby World Cups and was the first female referee to oversee a Premiership Rugby match. Earlier this year, she announced her retirement from international rugby after refereeing 51 Women’s Test matches and a number of Men’s Test matches.

Awarded an MBE in 2023 for services to rugby, Cox will bring a wealth of experience and insight to the conference programme as part of a varied day of keynote presentations and practical workshops aimed at coaches, volunteers, players and match officials from across Scotland’s community game.

Sara Cox MBE said: “I’m really looking forward to being involved in the Scottish Rugby Community Game Conference. While we represent different unions, the community game across rugby shares many of the same challenges, values and opportunities, so it’s incredibly important that we continue to collaborate, share experiences and learn from one another.

“Events like this are a great reminder that the strength of rugby comes from its people and its communities, and bringing different perspectives together can only help move the game forward in a positive way.

“Scottish Gas Murrayfield and rugby in Scotland has always been a special place for me, so it’s a privilege to be part of the day.”

The 2026 Community Game Conference will welcome more than 400 attendees to Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Friday 22 May for a day focused on learning, collaboration and inspiration across all areas of the club game.

The conference programme already includes speakers from across performance rugby, coaching, leadership and player development, with attendees able to choose from a range of workshops and presentations throughout the day.