Image source, SwpixImage caption, Tara Jones was the first woman to be appointed to the RFL full-time match officials squad at the end of 2024
ByMatthew CresswellBBC Sport England- Published2 hours ago
Tara Jones will become the first woman to take charge of a men's Super League game after being appointed to referee Saturday's match between Wigan Warriors and Huddersfield Giants.
The 29-year-old refereed her first Challenge Cup game back in 2018 and was appointed to the Rugby Football League [RFL] group of full-time match officials at the end of 2024.
In March 2018, Jones became the first female on-field match official in the men's Super League as an in-goal judge as Wigan defeated Wakefield 30-18 at the Brick Community Stadium.
Earlier this season, she became the first woman to referee a game involving a men's Super League side, taking charge of Wakefield's 82-6 victory at Swinton Lions in the Challenge Cup.
A former England and St Helens hooker, Jones stepped down from playing duties in 2024 to become a full-time referee following Saints' defeat by York Valkyrie in that year's Women's Super League Grand Final.
She was made an MBE for services to rugby league, as a referee, in the 2026 New Year's Honours list - an award she will officially receive on Tuesday.
"I was a bit shocked when I found out," Jones told the RFL about her weekend assignment.
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"I was travelling on my way down to London to receive my MBE at Windsor Castle tomorrow so it's a bit manic and I'm not in the office today.
"[Match officials general manager] Andy Smith asked me to jump on a Teams call and all the match officials coaches were on it.
"I actually thought I was in trouble. I wasn't quite sure what they all wanted.
"But then they gave me the good news that they've appointed me to my first [men's] Super League game this weekend, and I was just absolutely made up."
Jones added: "Making the decision to retire from playing just over a year ago was a really hard one and something I initially struggled to come to terms with.
"The past 12 months or so since being a full-time official has really cemented for me that I have done the right thing.
"Making my debut this weekend makes it all worth it – and the 12-year-old me would be very proud."
