Hollie Davidson
7ms
Hollie Davidson, born September 19, 1992, is a Scottish professional rugby union referee, now contracted with the Scottish Rugby Union. She was awarded a Scotland referee cap in February 2025.
Davidson’s journey began at 14, playing scrum-half for Murrayfield Wanderers, until a shoulder injury halted her playing career. While at Edinburgh University, she played for their women's rugby side, clinching the BUCS final. Davidson also represented Scotland U20s for two seasons, from 2010 to 2012. Tragically, just one week before a senior cap, her shoulder dislocated.
In 2015, Davidson joined the SRU's refereeing course, a pivotal moment as it shifted to Saturdays, previously Sundays – the same day as women's professional matches, making training impossible. By 2017, Davidson became the Scottish Rugby Union's first full-time professional women's referee.
Her professional career rapidly ascended. In 2018, she was assistant referee for the Glasgow Warriors versus Zebre Pro14 match. The following year, Davidson made history as the first woman to referee in the Melrose Sevens. On November 16, 2019, she took charge of the Stirling County versus Southern Knights match in the Super 6. January 2021 saw her appointed to officiate a men's professional match for the first time. Though initial appointments were cancelled, by March 2021, she refereed her first Pro14 fixture: Munster versus Benetton. The performance earned her high praise from Munster Head Coach Johann van Graan, who commended her calmness, excellent communication, and strong game management. In 2022, Davidson refereed the 1872 Cup match between Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby in the United Rugby Championship. Her remarkable achievements continued into 2025, when she refereed the final of the 2024-25 EPCR Challenge Cup, becoming the first female referee in a European Final.
Internationally, Davidson has been a prominent figure since 2017, officiating in the World Rugby Women's Sevens. 2018 saw her involved in Rugby Europe, the Commonwealth Games, and the Rugby World Cup Sevens. She also refereed in the 2019 Women's Six Nations Championship, overseeing the Wales versus Ireland match. In 2021, Davidson was selected as a referee for the rugby sevens tournament at the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics. 2022 brought another historic appointment: an all-women officiating team for a men's test match between Italy and Portugal. November 2022 saw her appointed to referee the final of the 2021 Rugby World Cup between hosts New Zealand and England. In 2023, Davidson stood out as the sole female member of the referee panel for the World Rugby U20 Championship and assisted in three international warm-up matches for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. December 2023 marked another milestone as she became the first female assistant referee in a men's Six Nations Championship match, officiating England versus Wales in February 2024. On July 20, 2024, Davidson made history by becoming the first woman to referee a Springboks match, officiating South Africa against Portugal. September 2025 will see her referee the final of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup between Canada and England, equalling André Watson's record of overseeing two Rugby World Cup finals. November 2025 concludes an extraordinary year as she becomes the first woman to referee an All Blacks test match, officiating Wales versus New Zealand.
Outside of rugby, Davidson holds a degree in Economic History from Edinburgh University.
Copied!
Hollie Davidson (born 19 September 1992) is a Scottish professional rugby union referee who is contracted with the Scottish Rugby Union. She was given a Scotland referee cap in February 2025.
== Playing career ==
Davidson began playing competitive rugby when she was 14. She played at scrum-half for Murrayfield Wanderers, until a shoulder injury put an end to her playing career.
At Edinburgh University she played for the women's rugby side winning the BUCS final.
Davidson played for Scotland U20s for two seasons from 2010 to 2012. One week before she was due to receive a senior cap she dislocated her shoulder.
== Referee career ==
=== Professional career ===
In 2015 Davidson joined the SRU's refereeing course, when a new course was held on Saturdays. Prior to this time the refereeing courses were held on Sunday, the same day as women's professional rugby matches, thus making it impossible for women to train as referees. Davidson became Scottish Rugby Union's first full time professional women's referee in 2017.
In 2018, Davidson was assistant referee for the Glasgow Warriors v Zebre match in the Pro14.
In 2019 Davidson became the first woman to referee in the Melrose Sevens.
On 16 November 2019 she refereed the Stirling County v Southern Knights match in the Super 6. In January 2021 Davidson was appointed to officiate a men's professional match for the first time. That match, and a subsequent match to which she was appointed, were cancelled, and she was then appointed in March 2021 to a further Pro 14 fixture. She refereed her first Pro14 fixture on 19 March 2021; a Munster v Benetton match, winning plaudits from the Munster Head Coach Johann van Graan: "I thought the referee was very good. She was very calm, she communicated to the players exceptionally well before the game. I felt she handled the game really well and I think a real good step forward for her and was very pleased with her performance."
Davidson refereed the 1872 Cup match on 18 March 2022 between Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby in the United Rugby Championship.
In 2025 Davidson refereed the final of the 2024-25 EPCR Challenge Cup, becoming the first female referee for a European Final.
=== International career ===
From 2017 Davidson has refereed in the World Rugby Women's Sevens. In 2018 she refereed in the Rugby Europe, the Commonwealth Games and the Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Davidson has refereed in the 2019 Women's Six Nations Championship in the Wales v Ireland match on 17 March 2019.
In 2021 Davidson was chosen as one of the referees for the rugby sevens tournament at the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics.
In 2022 she was appointed to an all-women team of match officials for a men's test match in Lisbon between a Tier 1 side, Italy, and the host Portugal.
In November 2022 Davidson was appointed to referee the final of the 2021 Rugby World Cup between hosts New Zealand and England.
In 2023 Davidson was the only female member of the panel of referees for the
2023 World Rugby U20 Championship. She was also appointed to be an assistant referee in three full international warm-up matches for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
In December 2023 Davidson was appointed to be an assistant referee at the England v Wales men's match in February 2024, where she became the first female assistant referee in a men's Six Nations Championship match.
On 20 July 2024 Davidson refereed a test match between South Africa and Portugal in Bloemfontein, becoming the first woman to referee a Springboks match.
In September 2025 Davidson was the referee for the final of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup between Canada and England, making her the only referee other than André Watson to oversee two Rugby World Cup finals.
In November 2025, Davidson refereed Wales vs New Zealand in Cardiff, making her the first woman to referee an All Blacks test match.
== Outside of rugby ==
Davidson has a degree in economic history from Edinburgh University.
== References ==
== External links ==
San Francisco World Cup Sevens
STV News report on Hollie Davidson
BBC Alba report on Hollie Davidson's refereeing style
Home
Languages