google-site-verification: googlec7193c3de77668c9.html

Tara Jones: St Helens and England hooker retires from playing to referee full-time

St Helens and England hooker Tara Jones will step down from playing duties in order to join the Rugby Football League’s full-time match officials squad for 2025.

The 28-year-old has refereed alongside her playing career in which she has made 93 appearances for Saints and won a Women’s Super League title, two League Leaders’ Shields and four Challenge Cups.

Sunday’s defeat by the York Valkyrie in this season’s Women’s Super League Grand Final was her last appearance for St Helens.

Jones, who made history earlier in 2024 by becoming the first woman to referee a men’s professional northern hemisphere rugby league game when Oldham took on Cornwall in League One, will become the first full-time female official since the squad’s inception in 2006.

Phil Bentham, the RFL’s head of match officials, said: “It’s been a big decision for her to retire from a fantastic club and international playing career after this weekend’s Women’s Super League Grand Final.

“She’s had a brilliant season as a match official, becoming the first female official to referee Men’s League One and touch judge Men’s Super League.

“She will combine her full-time MO role with work as an ambassador for women officials, primarily focusing on the recruitment and development of a new cohort. We have seen a massive growth in the women’s game and it’s vital that we see similar growth in our pool of women officials.”

During a stunning playing career, Jones also won 14 England caps, helping them reach the 2022 Rugby League World Cup semi-final, and also became the first woman to score a try at Wembley in a senior fixture as Saints beat Leeds Rhinos in last year’s Challenge Cup final.


Source link

Views: 0

See also  2025 State of Origin: New South Wales 12-24 Queensland - Maroons seal series win

Check Also

Super League: Leigh Leopards 28-12 Warrington Wolves – Five wins on spin for Leigh

Betfred Super League Leigh (16) 28 Tries: Armstrong, Lam, Senior, Ofahengaue, Hanley Goals: Cook 4 …

Super League: York Knights 22-24 Huddersfield Giants – Huddersfield end 12-match losing run

Huddersfield remain adrift at the bottom of the Super League table but they have cut …

Wheelchair Challenge Cup final: Halifax Panthers 92-24 Leeds Rhinos

Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup final Halifax (38) 92 Tries: Hawkins 10, Brown 4, O’Neill Goals: …

Leave a Reply

Available for Amazon Prime