Match official Tara Jones is set to make history this weekend when she becomes the first woman to referee a match in the men’s Super League.
It’s yet more history for Jones who has already pushed boundaries having swapped playing for officiating having previously starred or St Helens.
Jones took charge of her first Championship match in March of 2025 and she’s now already earned a call-up to Super League with Jones set to be the first woman to take charge of a game in the men’s competition.
She will referee Saturday’s game between Wigan Warriors and Huddersfield Giants to cap off a week that will also seen her collect her MBE for services to rugby league.
Jones, 29, will be at Windsor Castle to collect her honour on Tuesday when the rest of the Super League referee appointments are confirmed.
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Super League appointment confirmed for Tara Jones
News of Jones’ appointment was confirmed by the RFL with Jones admitting surprise at the call-up, even conceding that she feared that she was in trouble at first.
“I was a bit shocked when I found out,” Jones said.
“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 Super League game this weekend and I was just absolutely made up.”
Having already made history as the first women in the RFL’s team of full-time match officials, Jones now writers her name further into the record books with something that she described as a lifelong ambition.
“I feel very proud after refereeing since the age of 12,” she said.
“This has always been a lifelong ambition of mine to referee in Super League.
“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.
“But 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 Super League debut this weekend makes it all worth it – and the 12 year-old me would be very proud!”
