Scottish referee Hollie Davidson has been handed the honour of taking charge of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup Final, where hosts England meet Canada at Allianz Stadium in London on Saturday, 27 September.
The appointment confirms Davidson’s place among the game’s most accomplished officials. Remarkably, she becomes the first referee ever to oversee two Women’s Rugby World Cup finals, having already held the whistle for the 2021 tournament decider, played in 2022 at Eden Park in New Zealand. Only South Africa’s Andre Watson has matched that feat across the men’s and women’s tournaments, refereeing the men’s finals in 1999 and 2003.
For Davidson, Saturday’s fixture will be her 46th international Test match in charge, a tally that includes 33 women’s internationals, 12 men’s matches across different levels, and now her 34th women’s Test in the ultimate setting of a World Cup final.
Her rise has been marked by consistent excellence on the biggest stages. Over the past three years she has refereed a string of showcase events, from the Rugby World Cup Sevens Final and the Commonwealth Games Sevens Final in 2022 to the EPCR Challenge Cup Final earlier this year. This weekend’s clash in London will be the sixth major finalof her career.
Davidson was also recognised at home earlier this year when she received a Scottish Rugby referee cap, acknowledging her sustained contribution to the sport at the highest level.
Reflecting on her latest appointment, Davidson admitted she was humbled to be trusted once more with the biggest game in women’s rugby. “To be selected for my second World Cup Final is extremely humbling and exciting. This has been the biggest Women’s Rugby World Cup and it’s been a privilege to play a small part in it,” she said. “I couldn’t have done it without the support from the match official team here in London, and all the support from Scottish Rugby. It’s been a challenging year but it’s about showing up again and again.”
Her achievement has been warmly welcomed by Scottish Rugby. High Performance Match Official Manager Andrew Macpherson praised her dedication and consistency: “Seeing Hollie, one of our professional referees, selected for the Women’s Rugby World Cup was hugely rewarding. For her now to be appointed to officiate the final is thoroughly deserved and a clear recognition of her consistent performances at the very highest level.”
As the curtain comes down on the most widely watched and attended Women’s Rugby World Cup in history, Davidson’s presence in the middle is a fitting reminder of Scotland’s contribution to the global game — and of her own place among rugby’s elite referees.
