As well as being represented by well over 50 Super League players at the Rugby League World Cup, the competition will also send over three officials.
The squads for the men’s and women’s competitions have been confirmed with Australia kicking off against New Zealand in the men’s tournament on Thursday to start proceedings, but the refereeing squads are also being locked in.
Just three of the RFL’s elite referees have been called up: Liam Moore, Chris Kendall and Tara Jones, the three whistleblowers who will head down under.
For Jones, it marks the incredible achievement of playing in the 2022 Rugby League World Cup and then officiating in the 2026 edition, with the 30-year-old only becoming a Super League referee in 2024.
Since then, she has taken charge of 16 men’s Super League games and served as the touch judge for another 37 but this will be her first game refereeing at a World Cup.
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As for Moore and Kendall, they’ve previously officiated at World Cups with Moore making his tournament debut back in 2017 in Australia when he worked as a touch judge in the Ireland versus Italy game.
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He also officiated six games at the 2022 World Cup, three of which as the referee, including England’s quarter-final win over Papua New Guinea, but his experience in Super League is what he’s best known for.
Moore has officiated 215 Super League games and a further 102 as the video referee. He’s taken charge of four of the last five Grand Finals and also officiated two World Club Challenge games as well.
Similarly, Kendall is also incredibly experienced and boasts even more Super League games, with 257 to his name and 99 as a video referee. He also officiated at the 2017 and the 2022 World Cups, working as the video ref at the final in 2022.
All three will now head down under, as confirmed by the RFL, though it’s unclear as yet which games they will take charge of.
🌍🏆 WORLD CUP 🌍🏆
Good luck to Liam Moore, Chris Kendall and Tara Jones who are heading out to the RLWC26 in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea today.
We are all very excited for them and wish safe travels and all the best for the tournament
@TheRFL @rugbyleaguewcup https://t.co/r6guyy3VQX
— RFL Referees (@RFLReferees) October 9, 2026
