Scottish ref joins South Africa's Andre Watson in elite group
NEWS: World Rugby has today announced that Scotland’s Hollie Davidson will take charge of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final, which sees Canada face hosts England at Twickenham Stadium in London on Saturday, September 27.
It will be Davidson’s second Women’s Rugby World Cup final, having been in the middle for New Zealand’s 34-31 victory over England in the RWC 2021 title decider at a sold-out Eden Park in November 2022. She also ran touch in the 2017 Final between the same teams in Belfast.
Davidson joins Andre Watson as the only match officials to referee two Rugby World Cup finals, the South African having refereed the men’s title deciders in 1999 and 2003.
She was already the only female to referee Rugby World Cup finals in sevens and 15s, doing so just 62 days apart in 2022.
Davidson, who made her test debut on November 9, 2018 when England beat USA 57-5, is refereeing in her second Women’s Rugby World Cup, having also been called up as an assistant referee for the 2017 tournament in Ireland.
The RWC 2025 final will be Davidson’s 46th test in the middle, the third highest for a female official in test history behind Sara Cox (51) and Aimee Barrett-Theron (49). It will be her ninth match at the showpiece tournament and eighth test of the year.
The Match Official appointments for the Final are Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa) and Clara Munarini (Italy) as assistant referees with Leo Colgan (Ireland) the Television Match Official (TMO) and Matteo Liperini (Italy) the Foul Play Review Officer (FPRO).
Australia’s Ella Goldsmith will take charge of the bronze final between New Zealand and France, a fitting end to her first Women’s Rugby World Cup. The 27-year-old is the first Australian involved in a Women’s Rugby World Cup medal match since Amy Perrett refereed the 2014 final.
She will be supported by Kat Roche (USA) and Sara Cox (England) as assistant referees, Quinton Immelman (South Africa) as TMO and Ian Tempest (England) as FPRO.
World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said: “On behalf of World Rugby, congratulations to Hollie on her selection for as the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final referee. To take charge of two Rugby World Cup finals is an incredible achievement and reflection of a match official who is at the top of her game. We wish her well, along with bronze final referee Ella Goldsmith, and all the assistant referees, TMOs and FPROs, who will be playing their part in making history at a full Allianz Stadium.”
World Rugby Women’s High-Performance Referee Manager Alhambra Nievas said: “Rugby World Cups are the pinnacle in our sport, and to referee two finals is an outstanding achievement, that should not be underestimated. Hollie is a top referee, a trailblazer, and a role model, setting a standard to which the match officials’ group aspires to. I hope that all those selected cherish what will be a very special Finals Day.”
Previous Women’s World Cup Final referees:
1991 – Les Peard (Wales)
1994 – Jim Fleming (Scotland)
1998 – Ed Morrison (England)
2002 – Giulio De Santis (Italy)
2006 – Simon McDowell (Ireland)
2010 – Sarah Corrigan (Australia)
2014 – Amy Perrett (Australia)
2017 – Joy Neville (Ireland)
2021 – Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
