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James Mathieson Fleming MBE (born 8 July 1951 in Edinburgh, United Kingdom) is a retired Scottish Rugby Union Referee who refereed 42 major international matches and was a touch judge in a further 75. He also refereed 7 women’s internationals including the 1994 World Cup Final. The international matches that he controlled were between 1985 and 2001 and included matches in four Rugby World Cups. He is Scotland’s most capped referee and was an International referee for 18 years
He became a referee in 1973 after he was unable to play due to concussion. His first international was in 1985 when he refereed the Triple Crown decider between Ireland and England at Lansdowne Road. He refereed in four Rugby World Cups (1987, 1991, 1995 and 1999), taking charge of 12 matches. He refereed two semi finals – Australia v New Zealand (1991) and France v New Zealand (1999) as well as three quarter finals, Ireland v Australia (1991), South Africa v Samoa (1995) and England v South Africa (1999).[ citation needed ] He also refereed the opening match of the 1991 Rugby World Cup between England and New Zealand.
He refereed the Women's World Cup Final in 1994 between England and the USA.
In the six years he officiated in the European (Heinekin) Cup, Fleming refereed 4 Cup semi finals, 1 Challenge Cup semi final and the 1998 final between Bath and Brive.
Other credits to his name include 18 consecutive appearances at the Melrose Sevens, including refereeing 4 finals and for his final official match he became the first Scotsman to referee Scotland when he was in charge for their match against the Barbarians at Murrayfield in May 2001. [1]
He retired from on-field duties in 2001, at the age of 50. [2]
In 2005 he was elected as referees' representative to the Scottish Rugby Council, [3] and served in this role until 2010. [4]
He later became a TMO and referee assessor. He served as a director both on the Scottish Rugby Board and European Rugby Cup Ltd. [5]
He is currently the Referee Performance Reviewer Manager at the Scottish Rugby Union.
Fleming was awarded an MBE in the 2002 New Year Honours. [6] He received the IRB's distinguished services award for refereeing in 2004 and the Scottish Rugby Union's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.
In addition, Fleming is an honorary vice-president of his rugby club Boroughmuir and a life member of the Edinburgh Rugby Referees Society.
In 2022 Fleming was inducted into the Melrose Rugby 7s Hall of Fame
Professionally, Fleming was a chartered building and quantity surveyor.
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