Four years after playing for England in a Rugby League World Cup semi‑final, Tara Jones will referee a Women’s World Cup semi‑final this Saturday as New Zealand’s women face Samoa in Newcastle, New South Wales.
The former St Helens hooker, now 30, has progressed further than England’s men or women, earning an MBE and becoming the first woman to referee a men’s Super League fixture. She previously won a Women’s Super League title, two League Leaders’ Shields and four Challenge Cups, scoring a try in the 2023 final.
Starting as a referee at age 12 after sending off a misbehaving parent, she has officiated three Women’s World Cup matches, including England’s 70‑6 win over Wales and games versus France, New Zealand and Fiji.
Born in Germany and raised in Warrington, Jones combined playing and officiating, joining the RFL match officials department full‑time two years ago. She has documented her preparation on Instagram and is ready to handle the pressure of a high‑profile semi‑final, hoping to silence any criticism on social media. Her journey from a shy youngster to a top official shows how determination can reshape a career in sport. She aims to inspire future generations and prove that gender barriers in refereeing can be broken.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing