Next Hollie Davidson goes viral after shutting down New Zealand player

Thursday, 07 May 2026 at 10:20

byRugby Rucker

Ella Goldsmith just went viral for absolutely putting a New Zealand U20 player in their place — and rugby fans are starting to realise she’s following the path carved out by Hollie Davidson.

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Calm, authoritative and crystal clear, Goldsmith didn’t need theatrics to take control of the moment. One short exchange and the player instantly backed down.

“My guy instantly went silent ?”

The clip exploded online, but the reaction underneath it says even more about how highly fans already rate the young Australian referee.

“Is that Ella Goldsmith reffing? I've watched her several times without forming an impression, which is probably the highest compliment you can pay a referee.”

Another fan wrote:

“Yup it’s her. Watched her first time yesterday during this game and honestly, felt like a breath of fresh air. So clear with communicating with everyone. Maybe made 1 or 2 calls I didn’t agree with, but overall was so good.”

Goldsmith is rapidly becoming one of the most highly-rated young officials in world rugby. The Australian referee only made her international debut in 2023, but she has already been fast-tracked through the elite pathway and selected for major international tournaments.

At just 27 years old, she was appointed to referee the Women’s Rugby World Cup bronze final between New Zealand and France — a huge sign of how highly World Rugby rates her.

Before stepping into officiating, Goldsmith played both rugby and Australian Rules football, coming through the New South Wales refereeing pathway before joining Rugby Australia’s high-performance programme.

What makes her stand out is the same thing fans kept mentioning after the viral clip: communication. Players know exactly where they stand with her. She’s calm under pressure, rarely overreacts and manages games without making herself the centre of attention.

That’s why comparisons to Hollie Davidson are already starting to grow.

No shouting. No drama. Just authority.

https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/comments/1t2m4bk/my_guy_instantly_went_silent/