Hollie Davidson has won praise from rugby fans after showing a rare permanent red card during Toulouse’s Champions Cup clash with Exeter.

Toulouse prop Rodrigue Neti was sent off in the 16th minute after a dangerous tackle on Exeter’s Ross Vintcent.

Neti’s shoulder made contact with Vintcent’s head, and he did not wrap his arms around the Exeter back-rower. Davidson checked the footage before confirming the red card.

The challenge left Toulouse a man down for the remaining 65 minutes.

Fans back Davidson’s decision

Rugby fans praised Davidson’s call in the Reddit match thread.

One supporter wrote: “Lovely to see a referee actually using the red card properly.”

Another said: “Hollie Davidson is an absolutely phenomenal referee. Such good communication and clear discussion with her officiating team.”

It is not the first time fans have backed Davidson after a high-profile red-card decision. RUCK previously covered the support she received after Fiji’s red card against England.

Zack Wimbush scored soon after Neti’s dismissal, but Toulouse fought back to claim a 43-40 win over Exeter.

Five fascinating facts about Hollie Davidson

Hollie Davidson has become one of rugby’s most prominent referees, taking charge of major matches in both the men’s and women’s game. Her route to the top, though, began on the pitch as a player.

She came close to winning a Scotland cap

Davidson played scrum-half for Scotland Under-20s and was on the verge of a senior call-up. A shoulder injury ended her playing career before she could earn that first cap. She later told The Guardian how difficult it was to give up that ambition.

She swapped banking for refereeing

After her playing career ended, Davidson began building a new future in rugby. She was working at JP Morgan when she took up refereeing, then left the bank in 2017 to turn professional.

She led an all-female team in a men’s Test

That new career soon took her into the men’s international game. In 2022, Davidson refereed Italy against Portugal, leading the first all-female officiating team in a men’s Test involving a Six Nations side, according to World Rugby.

She made Six Nations history

Four years later, Davidson reached another landmark when she took charge of Ireland’s match against Italy. She became the first woman to referee a men’s Six Nations match.

She refereed two World Cup finals 62 days apart

Her achievements in the men’s game sit alongside a remarkable record in women’s rugby. In 2022, Davidson refereed the Sevens World Cup final and the 15-a-side World Cup final just 62 days apart. She took charge of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup final too, and received the World Rugby Referee Award.