Hollie Davidson Biography – Hollie Davidson Wiki

Hollie Davidson has established herself as a trailblazer in the world of rugby, breaking new ground for female referees in the sport. As Scotland’s pioneering full-time professional women’s rugby union referee since 2017, Davidson made her test debut on November 9, 2018, officiating a match where England triumphed over the USA with a score of 57-5.

The year 2022 was a landmark for Davidson, as she officiated in major tournaments across both sevens and 15-a-side formats. Her impressive portfolio included the women’s finals at the Commonwealth Games and the Rugby World Cup Sevens. A historic moment came when she became the first woman to referee a men’s Six Nations team, overseeing Italy’s thrilling 38-31 victory against Portugal in June 2022.

On November 12, 2022, Davidson officiated the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2021 final at Eden Park, where New Zealand faced off against England. This marked her 26th test as a referee, and she became the first woman to have refereed finals in both the Rugby World Cup sevens and 15s categories.

Davidson joined an elite group of women who have refereed Rugby World Cup finals, following Sarah Corrigan, Amy Perrett, and Joy Neville. Moreover, she became the second Scottish official, after Jim Fleming in 1994, to referee a women’s Rugby World Cup final.

Continuing to pave the way for women in rugby, Davidson made history in 2024 as the first female assistant referee in both the Men’s Six Nations and the Rugby Championship. Her accomplishments that year also included refereeing at the World Rugby U20 Championship and officiating the European Rugby Challenge Cup final between Bath and Lyon in May 2025.

World Rugby Referee Award

Davidson’s contributions to rugby were formally recognized on September 25, 2025, when she received the prestigious World Rugby Referee Award, presented in partnership with Emirates at the Women’s Rugby Global Summit in London. She became the second Scottish official to earn this honor, after Jim Fleming, underscoring her significant impact on the international rugby scene.

She is the third female recipient, following in the footsteps of Alhambra Nievas – who shared the award in 2016 with fellow Olympic Games gold medal match referee Rasta Rasivhenge – and Joy Neville, the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 final referee.

The Scottish referee was named World Rugby’s Referee of the Year for 2025, with more than a quarter of her 46 matches in the middle having come in the men’s Test arena.

Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final

On 27 September 2025, Davidson took charge of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final between Canada and England at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. Her parents were in the crowd for the final. She became the first female to referee two Women’s Rugby World Cup finals and only the third in history with South Africa’s Andre Watson refereeing the men’s Rugby World Cup final in 1999 and 2003 and Ed Morrison of England with the men’s title decider in 1995 and the women’s final in 1998.

All Blacks Test

On 22 November 2025, Davidson will become the first female in history to referee an All Blacks Test, having been appointed to officiate Wales vs New Zealand in the Autumn Nations Series.

Hollie Davidson Age

World Rugby referee Hollie Davidson was born on 19 September 1992 in Aboyne, Scotland.

Hollie Davidson Parents

Referee Hollie Davidson is supported by her family and her partner Scotland international rugby player Helen Nelson. Her parents were in the crowd for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final.

“But both my mum and dad were in the crowd for the final,” Davidson told RugbyPass. “I remember talking to my dad a few days later and he said that he hadn’t eaten all day because he was so nervous. It probably puts into perspective how nerve wracking it is to be a supporter of a referee.”

Hollie Davidson Partner

Hollie Davidson is in a relationship with Helen Nelson, a Scottish rugby union player. Nelson represents PWR side Loughborough Lightning at the club level. Davidson and her partner Helen Nelson have been together for more than 10 years.

“She’s a very supportive other half,” Davidson told the Daily Mail. “And hopefully it’s vice-versa for her. It just means that we’re able to understand at times what one another are going through.”

She added: “She’s the nicest individual. We’re very good in the sense that once we come home and rugby is done, it’s done. The conversation doesn’t really continue unless one of us needs that support from the other.”

Hollie Davidson Husband

Is Hollie Davidson married? No, the Scottish referee is unmarried. Her partner of more than 10 years is Scottish rugby union player Helen Nelson.

Hollie Davidson Salary

Professional rugby referee Hollie Davidson receives a salary of between £1,200 and £2,200 per game, which equivalates to approximately £160,000 per year.

Hollie Davidson Net Worth

Scottish rugby union referee Hollie Davidson has an estimated net worth of £1 million.

Height

Hollie Davidson stands at 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) tall.

Instagram

Hollie Davidson’s Instagram account is @holliedave.