Hollie Davidson Referees Women’s RWC 2025 Final
- scotland's Hollie davidson will officiate the 2025 final between England and Canada, cementing her place as a pioneering figure in rugby officiating.
- What: Hollie Davidson appointed referee for the Women's Rugby world Cup 2025 final.
- Why it Matters: Davidson becomes the first person to referee two Women's rugby World Cup finals, and onyl the second official overall to achieve this feat across...
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Hollie Davidson to Make history as First to Referee Two Women’s Rugby World Cup Finals
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scotland’s Hollie davidson will officiate the 2025 final between England and Canada, cementing her place as a pioneering figure in rugby officiating.
Davidson’s Historic Appointment
World Rugby announced today that Hollie Davidson will referee the highly anticipated women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final,featuring a clash between host nation England and Canada. This marks a notable milestone in her career and in the history of rugby officiating.
Davidson previously refereed the 2021 women’s Rugby World Cup final, a thrilling contest where New Zealand defeated England 34-31 at a sold-out Eden Park. She also served as a touch judge in the 2017 final between the same two teams in Belfast. This appointment makes her the first individual to referee two Women’s Rugby World Cup finals.
She joins an exclusive group of referees, alongside South African Andre Watson, who refereed the men’s Rugby World Cup finals in 1999 and 2003. Davidson uniquely holds the distinction of being the only official to have refereed finals in both Rugby World Cup Sevens and 15s formats, achieving this within a mere 62 days in 2022.
A rising Star in Rugby Officiating
Davidson’s journey to the top began with her test debut on November 9, 2018, officiating England’s 57-5 victory over the USA. As then, she has rapidly ascended the ranks, demonstrating exceptional skill and composure on the field.
The 2025 final will be Davidson’s 46th test match as a referee, placing her third among female officials in test history. she trails only Sara Cox (51 tests) and Aimee Barrett-Theron (49 tests). This year alone, she has officiated eight test matches, showcasing her consistent selection by World Rugby for high-profile events.
Beyond her refereeing duties, Davidson also served as an assistant referee at the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Ireland, gaining valuable experience at the highest level of the game.
Match Official Team for the final
Davidson will be supported by a strong team of match officials for the final:
| Role | Official | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Referee 1 | Aimee Barrett-Theron | South Africa |
| Assistant Referee 2 | Clara Munarini | Italy |
| Television Match Official (TMO) | Leo Colgan | Ireland |
| Assistant TMO | Matteo Liperini | Italy |
Bronze Final Appointment
In addition to the final appointment, World Rugby has also announced that Ella Goldsmith will referee the bronze final,