Only days out from refereeing the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final, Scotland’s Hollie Davidson has been presented with the World Rugby Referee Award in partnership with Emirates at the Women’s Rugby Global Summit in London on Thursday.

Davidson is the second Scottish official after Jim Fleming to receive the accolade, which recognises international men’s and women’s referees, in sevens or 15s, who have made a significant contribution to the game of rugby.

She is the third female recipient, following in the footsteps of Alhambra Nievas – who shared the award in 2016 with fellow Olympic Games gold medal match referee Rasta Rasivhenge – and Joy Neville, the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 final referee.

Davidson has been a trailblazer for female match officials in recent years, continually setting first after first as one of the most experienced referees in the game with more than a quarter of her 46 matches in the middle having come in the men’s test arena.  

She was the first to referee a Men’s Six Nations team when she led an all-female team in Italy’s 38-31 win over Portugal in June 2022, before completing the Rugby World Cup final double in sevens and 15s only 62 days apart later that year.

In the last two years, Davidson has refereed a Rugby Championship team in world champions South Africa in July 2024 and a match involving a Men’s Six Nations and Rugby Championship team with the Springboks’ test with Italy this July.

Davidson also became the first female assistant referee in both the Men’s Six Nations and Rugby Championship in 2024, the first to referee at the World Rugby U20 Championship that year and more recently took charge of the European Rugby Challenge Cup final between Bath and Lyon in May.

This weekend Davidson will add another first when she takes charge of her second Women’s Rugby World Cup final before a sold-out Allianz Stadium, the first female to achieve the feat and only the third in history with South Africa’s Andre Watson refereeing the men’s Rugby World Cup final in 1999 and 2003 and Ed Morrison of England with the men’s title decider in 1995 and the women’s final in 1998.

World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said: “On behalf of World Rugby, I want to congratulate Hollie on receiving this thoroughly deserved Referee Award and wish her the very best of luck as she takes charge of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final this weekend. Referees are the soul of our game. Without them, rugby simply would not exist, and their invaluable contribution deserves to be celebrated.

“Hollie has also been a true trailblazer, consistently breaking new ground and shattering glass ceilings for women in refereeing. Her remarkable achievements on the biggest stages have set new standards and opened doors for others to follow. We are in awe of what she has accomplished so far and deeply grateful for the inspiration she continues to provide for the next generation of match officials and players alike.”

Su Carty, Chair of the Emirates Match Officials Selection Committee, added: “This award is a fitting recognition of Hollie’s outstanding career and her ability to referee at the very highest level of the game. Time and again she has demonstrated composure, authority and excellence in the middle, whether in women’s or men’s test matches. Her journey and success will undoubtedly inspire more and more people to pick up the whistle, and we are excited to see the lasting impact she will have on the future of officiating.”

World Rugby Referee Award recipients
(known as the Referee Award for Distinguished Service from 2001-14)

2001 – Ed Morrison (England)
2002 – Colin Hawke (New Zealand)
2003 – Derek Bevan (Wales)
2004 – Jim Fleming (Scotland)
2005 – Paddy O’Brien (New Zealand)
2006 – Peter Marshall (Australia)
2007 – Dick Byres (Australia)
2008 – Andre Watson (South Africa)
2009 – Francis Palmade (France)
2010 – Colin High (England)
2011 – Keith Lawrence (New Zealand)
2012 – Paul Dobson (South Africa)
2013 – Michel Lamoulie (France)
2014 – Bob Francis (New Zealand)
2015 – Nigel Owens (Wales)
2016 – Alhambra Nievas (Spain) and Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
2017 – Joy Neville (Ireland)
2018 – Angus Gardner (Australia)
2019 – Wayne Barnes (England)
2021 – Andrew Cole (Australia)
2022 – Tappe Henning (South Africa)
2023 – David McHugh (Ireland)