Sara Cox

Career As a player, Cox played rugby for Exeter Saracens RFC, Cullompton and Plymouth Albion, and had trials for England U-21. Aged 17, she decided to retire from playing the sport after an injury, and took up refereeing instead, initially part time, whilst also working for a waste management company.

Cox officiated at the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup in France. In 2016, she became the first female referee to be centrally contracted by the Rugby Football Union (RFU), and the world's first professional female rugby union referee. Cox officiated at the rugby sevens event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She was the only English referee at the tournament.

In February 2017, Cox became the first female to referee a National League 1 match. In the same year, she was chosen by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) to officiate in the men's Challenge Cup, She was also selected as an assistant referee for November 2018 men's internationals between Hong Kong and Germany, and between Kenya and Germany. This was the first time that Cox had officiated in a men's international match. In the same month, she officiated a women's international match between France and New Zealand. In May 2021, she officiated the 2020–21 Premier 15s Final.

On 25 September 2021, Sara Cox became the first woman to referee a Premiership Rugby League Match when she took centre field for a fixture between Harlequins and Worcester Warriors at the Stoop.

In May 2022, Cox was selected as a referee for the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup.

Cox was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to rugby union football.

She announced her retirement from international rugby in January 2026.