Davidson to referee World Cup final after her 'remarkable year'

Hollie Davidson of Scotland has been appointed to referee this Saturday’s women’s World Cup final between England and New Zealand in Auckland. She becomes the second Scottish official to control a women’s World Cup final, following Jim Fleming in 1994.

The World Cup final will be the 26th Test match for Davidson as a referee, with South African Aimee Barrett-Theron and France’s Aurelie Groizeleau appointed as her assistants. English referee Sara Cox, meanwhile, will control the bronze medal match between Canada and France in Auckland on Saturday.

World Rugby’s referee talent development manager Alhambra Nievas said: “For Hollie, 2022 has been a remarkable year. She has taken charge of some of the biggest competitions across sevens and 15s, including the women’s finals at the Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup Sevens.

“She also created history when she was the first female appointed to referee a men’s Six Nations team with Italy’s 38-31 victory over Portugal.”