Tara Jones will become the first woman in charge of a men’s Super League game after being appointed to referee Saturday’s clash between Wigan Warriors and Huddersfield Giants.
The 29-year-old took charge of her first Challenge Cup game back in 2018 and was appointed to the Rugby Football League [RFL] full-time match officials squad 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, Jones became the first female 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 a MBE for services to rugby league football, 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.