Trailblazing Weekend for Tara Jones: First Woman to Referee Men’s Professional Rugby League Game

Tara Jones is set to make history this weekend as she becomes the first woman to referee a men’s professional northern hemisphere rugby league game. The groundbreaking moment comes as Jones continues to break barriers and pave the way for more female officials in the sport.

Jones, who has worked her way up through the ranks as a touch judge and in-goal judge in Super League, is thrilled at the opportunity to officiate a men’s professional game. “It’ll definitely be a weekend I remember for the rest of my life,” Jones told BBC Radio Merseyside. “To go one step further and be the one in the middle in charge of a men’s professional game is just the next step forward in my career.”

The Rugby Football League (RFL) has been actively working to bring more female officials into its officiating pathway, and Jones’ appointment is a testament to their efforts. Jones, who started her journey to refereeing at just 12 years old, is proud to see more females getting involved in officiating. “Now there are more and more females being seen on appointment and in games week-in, week-out off the back of this programme that the RFL have launched,” she said.

In addition to her officiating duties, Jones is also a key player for St Helens in the Women’s Challenge Cup. Having made history in 2023 by scoring a try in the Women’s Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium, Jones is no stranger to busy weekends of playing and refereeing. “It can be a challenge but it’s something I’m used to. Some weekends I even have three games if I’m doing in-goal on a Friday, playing on Saturday, and refereeing on a Sunday,” she said.

Jones’ dedication and passion for the sport are truly inspiring, and her historic moment this weekend is sure to inspire more women to pursue officiating roles in rugby league.