RFL Announces Return of Former Super League Referees to Improve Officiating

The Rugby Football League (RFL) has announced the return of former Super League referees James Child, Ian Smith, and Matt Thomason to the sport in new roles as Match Officials reviewers. This reshuffle, confirmed by RFL’s Head of Match Officials Phil Bentham, aims to improve the standard of refereeing across the game.

Bentham, who was appointed as RFL Head of Match Officials last month, has been tasked with enhancing officiating and the disciplinary system in the Super League. The return of Child, Smith, and Thomason is just one of the changes Bentham has made since taking on his new role.

In addition to the trio’s return, experienced Andy Smith has been appointed as a new full-time touch judge coach in the Match Officials Department. Bentham expressed his delight at the recent appointments, highlighting the wealth of experience that Child, Smith, Thomason, and Smith bring to the team.

With these changes, it seems that Bentham is making sensible decisions to improve the officiating team at the RFL. Bringing back Child, who has been vocal about the challenges he faced during his career, and Smith, whose social media commentary on refereeing decisions is well-regarded, shows that the RFL is in good hands under Bentham’s leadership.

Overall, the return of these former referees and the appointment of Andy Smith signal a positive step towards enhancing the quality of officiating in rugby league. Fans can expect to see improvements in the way matches are officiated as the RFL continues to make strides in developing its backroom team.