Sara Cox

Sara Cox is famed for her expertise as a Rugby Union Referee and has already made waves as a pioneering woman in an often male-dominated sport. Widely known for becoming the world’s first female professional Rugby Union Referee, Sara has solidified her name in the history books with many “firsts” in the sport. Having formerly played rugby for teams such as the Saracens and Exeter, Sara has unique knowledge of the sport - incorporating her perspectives of being on the pitch and the side-lines into her motivational speeches. When looking to hire a speaker who has broken boundaries and strives to see equal representation in sports, hire Sara Cox today!

A career that initially began on the pitch, Sara first began playing rugby for teams such as Cullompton, Plymouth Albion, Exeter and the Saracens. Having also had the opportunity to trial for the U-17 England squad, Sara was unfortunately forced to retire from the sport due to injury. Following her retirement, Sara spent time working as a Marketing Executive for Coastal Recycling, before returning to her beloved sport in 2013 as a Women’s Sevens & Fifteens Rugby Referee for World Rugby. Throughout her tenure with World Rugby, Sara has had countless incredible experiences - such as being a Rugby Referee at the Commonwealth Games, the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games, the Women’s Rugby World Cup and National League 1 matches.

A truly pioneering woman in rugby, Sara has achieved so much. She has claimed titles such as being the first woman to referee a Premiership Rugby Union match, the first female referee of a Premiership Rugby Cup match and the first woman to officiate a match between two Premiership Rugby teams. Most recently, whilst working as a Professional Referee for the Rugby Football Union, Sara has added yet more accolades to her roster - such as becoming the first female to referee a Men’s Premiership Rugby match, being selected as the Referee for the 2022 Rugby World Cup, and the first female referee of a Greene King Championship match. With countless pioneering feats under her belt, Sara’s dedication to the sport saw her appointed MBE in the 2023 Birthday Honours for Services to Rugby Union Football.

As a pioneering female in sports, Sara is now a highly popular choice as a keynote speaker for sports-themed or corporate events. Drawing on her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated sport, Sara inspires all with her ascent to the top of the Rugby Union. From the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games to the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup and the 2021 Premier 15s, there are few official rugby competitions that Sara has not had a profound impact on. When hired as a speaker, Sara shares her motivational career as a woman in rugby, touching on how she broke through glass ceilings and inspired the next generation of female referees. When looking for a speaker who can share their inspirational story, hire Sara Cox today.

In January 2024 we sat down virtually with Sara Cox and discussed her stories on the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated industry and the key lessons from rugby that can be applied to business. Watch our Exclusive Interviews with Sara Cox here.