Mike Adamson: Referee

Mike Adamson, who ended a 19-year absence of a Scottish referee controlling a men’s Six Nations Championship game, has today been presented with his referee cap.

Adamson, 40, who represented Scotland in the Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup 7s as a player and took to the Olympic Games stage as a referee, was presented with his cap in a ceremony this afternoon at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium by SRU President Keith Wallace.

The President said: “Mike, a product of Dollar Academy, was nimble, agile and smart as a player, whether helping Glasgow Hawks to lift the Scottish Cup in 2007, earning a pro contract with Glasgow Warriors and London Scottish, or making a fantastic contribution to Scotland sevens in the abbreviated game.

“The class which characterised his game as a stand-off and scrum-half, shines brightly as a referee and always has done from his transition as a player some 12 years ago.

“Mike said he wanted to stay involved at the highest level of the game when he stopped playing and he continues to do that.

“You can look at the 13 Test matches he has refereed – including England v Italy in the men’s Six Nations Championship in 2021, the first Scot to referee in that competition in 19 years.

“You can look at his 22 matches in the EPCR Champions Cup or his 87 matches in the United Rugby Championship in its current guise and its previous iterations.

“But if ever there was an illustration of his quality, it came when rugby returned to the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016.

“Mike was not only entrusted with the opening game of that landmark competition, he went on to officiate at the semi-final too and but for Great Britain’s qualification for the final against Fiji, would surely have taken charge of that pinnacle too.

“It Is always great when a professional player stays in the game after finishing. Mike is a fantastic example of this by serving the game with a second successful career.”

Adamson became the third recipient of a Scottish Rugby referees’ cap, following the inaugural presentation to Allan Hosie, at his home in Ayr last month and the capping of his fellow half-back, Hollie Davidson at Scottish Gas Murrayfield earlier this month.

The cap is awarded to living referees who have controlled a Test match involving a Tier 1 union.

A further presentation will take place next month, as part of the centenary celebrations of Murrayfield stadium. On Friday 21 March, a further eight Scotland international referees will receive their referee caps.

Keith Wallace added: “We all know that without the referee, we have no game. I am very proud that we have extended our retrospective caps project – which has seen players in the male and female game gain the ultimate recognition – to now include referees.

“Our research in this area is ongoing and we may yet choose to extend the scope of referee recognition.”

Mike Adamson said: “Being part of a high-performance environment as a player was something I loved, and it’s been great to continue experiencing that as a referee.

“This achievement isn’t just mine – it belongs to my family, friends, and colleagues who have been there for me every step of the way. Their support, encouragement, and belief in me means so much, and I can’t thank them enough. Today is as much about them as it is about me.

“After 12 years of refereeing, the game continues to challenge me in new ways. I’m grateful for every opportunity this role has given me so far and excited for what’s to come.”