Hollie Davidson will break new ground this April when she referees the Top 14 clash between Clermont and Lyon in round 21, becoming the first woman to officiate a match in France’s top domestic league.
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Just two weeks earlier, she will oversee the Champions Cup round of 16 fixture between Northampton Saints and Castres, underlining her growing influence in elite rugby.
Named Referee of the Year in 2025, the 33-year-old Scot has steadily risen through the ranks. Her rugby journey began as a player at 14, later representing Edinburgh University and winning the BUCS championship.
She went on to play scrum-half for Murrayfield Wanderers and Scotland under-20s between 2010 and 2012, before a shoulder dislocation just ahead of a potential senior debut ended her playing career.
Davidson transitioned into refereeing in 2015, joining a newly accessible Scottish Rugby Union course, and by 2017 she had become Scotland’s first full-time professional female referee.
Her early breakthroughs included serving as assistant referee for Glasgow Warriors v Zebre in 2018 and becoming the first woman to referee at the Melrose Sevens in 2019.
Later that year, she took charge of Stirling County v Southern Knights in the Super 6, continuing to build her experience in the domestic game.
Her presence in the professional men’s game grew in 2021 when she refereed her first Pro14 match, Munster v Benetton, earning praise for her composure and communication.
She followed this with further high-profile fixtures, including the 1872 Cup clash between Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby in 2022.
On the international stage, Davidson has officiated across formats and competitions, including Wales v Ireland in the 2019 Women’s Six Nations and the rugby sevens tournament at the Tokyo Olympics.
In 2022, she was part of an all-female officiating team for the men’s Test between Portugal and Italy in Lisbon, after refereeing the Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and England in 2021.
Her list of landmark matches has continued to grow, including South Africa v Portugal in 2024, where she became the first woman to referee a Springboks Test.
She also served as assistant referee for England v Wales in the 2024 Six Nations, before refereeing Ireland v Italy in 2026, another historic first in the men’s championship.
Also, in 2025, she officiated Wales v New Zealand, becoming the first woman to referee an All Blacks Test match.
Hollie Davidson: 10 Facts About the Former Banker Who Made Six Nations History
Here are 10 things you might not know about the trailblazing Scottish official Hollie Davidson.
Hollie Davidson facts:
1. She Made Six Nations History
In 2024, Davidson became the first woman to referee a men’s Six Nations match — one of rugby union’s most prestigious tournaments, featuring England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. It was a watershed moment not just for her career, but for the sport itself.
2. She Didn’t Start Out as a Referee
Davidson originally played rugby growing up in Scotland and at university level. Like many elite officials, she transitioned into refereeing after her playing career — discovering a talent for leadership and game management.
3. She Worked in Banking Before Rugby
Before becoming a full-time referee, Davidson worked in banking after studying economic history at the University of Edinburgh. She previously held a role with J.P. Morgan before committing fully to officiating.
4. She Became Scotland’s First Full-Time Female Pro Referee
In 2017, she made history by becoming Scotland’s first full-time professional female referee — a major milestone in Scottish Rugby’s development pathway.
5. She Officiated at the Rugby World Cup
Davidson was selected as an assistant referee at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, rugby’s biggest global stage. Selection reflects the high regard in which she is held by the sport’s governing body.
6. She Starred at the Women’s Rugby World Cup
Prior to her men’s Six Nations breakthrough, Davidson had already refereed major matches at the Women’s Rugby World Cup, further proving her credentials at the highest level.
7. She’s Part of an Elite Global Referee Panel
Davidson works within World Rugby’s high-performance referee program, undergoing extensive law exams, match reviews, and fitness testing to maintain elite standards.
8. She Has Officiated Top Club Rugby
Beyond international tournaments, Davidson has refereed in the United Rugby Championship, one of Europe’s premier professional competitions. Her appointments in top-tier men’s club rugby paved the way for her Six Nations breakthrough.
9. Fitness Is Key to Her Success
Modern referees cover significant distances during matches — often comparable to players. Davidson trains year-round to maintain the pace, positioning, and sharp decision-making required at elite level.
10. She’s Inspiring the Next Generation
Davidson’s appointment sent a powerful message to aspiring officials around the world: elite refereeing is about performance and ability. Her rise through the ranks demonstrates that barriers in sport can be challenged — and changed.
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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