Hollie Davidson and Andrew McMenemy appointments for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 confirmed

Across the pool stages of the competition, Davidson will oversee Brazil’s first-ever Women’s Rugby World Cup match when they face South Africa in Northampton on 24 August. She will further take to the middle to referee Canada v Wales at Salford Stadium in Manchester on 30 August, and New Zealand v Ireland at Brighton& Hove Albion Stadium on 7 September.

Her appointment marks another significant milestone in a career that has already seen her referee at the highest level of the sport, including the final of the 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand (played in 2022) between the Black Ferns and the Red Roses.

This tournament will round off another exceptional year for Davidson, who made history by becoming the first female referee to officiate an EPCR Final, overseeing the Challenge Cup Final between Bath Rugby v Lyon Olympique Universitaire, and last weekend became the first female referee to officiate a Tier One Test match in the summer when South Africa took on Italy.

After his involvement across the Men’s and Women’s Six Nations for the last two years, Andrew McMenemy has been named among the six Television Match Officials (TMOs) for the tournament.

As part of the Emirates World Rugby Match Officials panel, McMenemy’s role will be vital in ensuring accuracy and fairness in some of the most high-stakes moments of the competition. His experience and decision-making will support on-field referees across four fixtures during the pool stages: USA v Australia on 30 August, France v Brazil on 31 August, Wales v Fiji on 6 September and Japan v Spain on 7 September.

Davidson and McMenemy’s involvement further underscores Scotland’s growing presence within international rugby officiating. Their contributions will play a key part in delivering a world-class tournament, which kicks off on 22 August when hosts England take on USA at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.