Hollie Davidson Receives World Rugby Referee Award Ahead of Second Women’s World Cup Final
World Rugby cited trailblazing milestones across both men’s and women’s officiating as the basis for the honor.
Overview
- Davidson was presented the Referee Award in partnership with Emirates at the Women’s Rugby Global Summit in London on Thursday.
- She is appointed to referee England versus Canada in the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final at Allianz Stadium before a sold‑out crowd of about 82,000.
- The appointment gives her consecutive Women’s World Cup finals, making her the first woman to officiate two and only the third referee to reach two finals overall.
- She becomes the second Scottish and third female recipient of the award, following Alhambra Nievas and Joy Neville.
- Career markers include leading the first all‑female team in a men’s Test (Italy v Portugal, 2022), first female assistant in the Men’s Six Nations and Rugby Championship and first female referee at the U20 Championship (2024), and refereeing the European Rugby Challenge Cup final in May.