The 32-year-old from Scotland has loved testing herself in the three showpiece competitions over the years, most recently just a couple of weeks ago when she was an assistant referee when Ireland played England in round one of the Guinness Men's Six Nations.
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.
And her Men's Six Nations journey will continue in round five of this year’s tournament next month when she will be an assistant referee when Wales play England in Cardiff.
In terms of the Guinness Women's Six Nations, she has been involved in that quite a bit over recent years including being the referee for the 2022 title decider in the Stade Jean-Dauger in Bayonne between France and eventual Grand Slam champions England.
And the U20 Six Nations played a really important part in her development, helping her get experience under her belt and a good level..
“Being involved in games in any of the Six Nations tournaments is always fun,” Davidson said.
“When I was running the line for the Ireland-England men’s game just a couple of weeks ago, I was actually really excited to go out there whereas a year before, when I made my Men’s Six Nations debut as an assistant referee in England-Wales, I was so nervous.
“Now I feel quite comfortable in the environment and these types of big matches are always exciting and there is a buzz around them.”
Davidson was speaking at Scottish Gas Murrayfield where, on Wednesday, she received her Scottish Rugby referee cap from the governing body’s president Keith Wallace at a special ceremony with family and officiating colleagues Sam Grove-White and Mike Adamson proudly watching on.
The caps are being awarded by Scottish Rugby to living referees who have controlled a Test match involving a Tier 1 union in the men’s game.
“This is fantastic and for Scottish Rugby to be recognising referees who are flying the flag around the world is really important,” the former Scotland age-grade cap Davidson, who was a scrum-half back in the day, stated.
“I think referees probably want to go very much under the radar.
“And this cap honour is probably more for the people that have been supporting me over the years than for myself.
“There is a big group of people, both in the refereeing community and in my family, that have helped me get to where I am now. Without that support, refereeing can be a tough place.
“I'm a proud Scot myself, so I hope I'm doing my country proud out there when I'm refereeing.
“I’m also proud to say I am a match official.
“I've achieved things that I probably never thought I was going to be able to and to receive this cap definitely feels like recognition for the work and effort that has been put in over the past 10 years or so.
“And I just feel like I've got so much still to give, learn and, fingers crossed, excel at.
“I'm super excited about the future and I don't see it slowing down any time soon which is really exciting.
“My big goal would be to referee in 2027 at the men's World Cup, I'd be lying if I said that that wasn't one of my ambitions.
“I think, over the next year, we'll know if I'm on track to do that.”
The official from Aboyne in Aberdeenshire took up the whistle in late 2015 before becoming a full-time professional in 2017 with Scottish Rugby.
In total Davidson has now taken charge of 24 women’s Tests, including the Rugby World Cup 2021 - played in 2022 - final, and 11 men’s Tests.
Scottish Rugby president Keith Wallace said: “Hollie is an outstanding referee who is following in the footsteps of Scotland’s finest match officials. She exudes a calm authority and allows the players to take centre stage.
“Like so many referees, Hollie took up the whistle after injury ended her playing career. While a dodgy shoulder meant her dream of becoming a Scotland player at scrum-half was thwarted, she is now scaling the heights as a Test match referee and I firmly believe there is more to come from Hollie.”
Images: Scottish Rugby/SNS
