Hollie rewriting history once again

NEWS: Hollie Davidson will make history by becoming the first female referee to officiate an EPCR Final, overseeing the Challenge Cup Final between Bath and Lyon Olympique Universitaire.

It is also the first time a Scottish referee has been selected to officiate a European Final since Jim Fleming took charge of Bath against Brive in 1998.

In 2024, she became the first Scottish female to be part of the officiating team in a men’s Six Nations match when she was named as an assistant referee for England versus Wales.

The appointment adds further to another exceptional year for Davidson, who was involved in the men’s and women’s Six Nations and will become the first female referee to officiate a Tier One Test match when the Springboks face Italy.

She will be assisted by Mike Adamson, who has been selected as the TMO for the final, which takes place at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff on Friday, May 23.

Davidson said: “European rugby is the pinnacle of the professional game and to be named as the Challenge Cup final referee is something that I never thought was possible when I was starting out. It’s been a long time since a Scot has done a final, so I’m just absolutely over the moon to be named as the referee for such a big game.

Nika Amashukeli will make his EPCR Finals debut as referee for the Champions Cup Final, where Northampton Saints will face Union Bordeaux-Bègles in the prestigious 30th final of the competition.

This is another milestone for the Georgian referee, who was recently selected to officiate the third and final British & Irish Lions Test against Australia in August, in what will be his 30th Test match and first Lions appointment.

Working alongside Nika in Cardiff will be Assistant Referees Andrea Piardi (Italy) and Andrew Brace (Ireland), as well as TMO Marius Jonker (South Africa).