{{Short description|English rugby league player and referee}} {{about|the rugby league player|other people|Tara Jones (disambiguation)}} {{not to be confused with|Tara-Jane Stanley}} {{EngvarB|date=November 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox rugby league biography | name = Tara Jones | honorific_suffix= {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=80%|MBE}} | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | fullname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|07|10|df=yes}} | birth_place = Germany | height = <!-- {{convert|X|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} or {{convert|X|ft|X|in|cm|abbr=on}} --> | weight = <!-- {{convert|X|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} or {{convert|X|st|X|lb|kg|abbr=on}} --> | retired = no | position = {{rlp|HK}} | club1 = St Helens | year1start = 2018 | year1end = 24 | appearances1 = 93 | tries1 = 4 | goals1 = 0 | fieldgoals1 = 0 | points1 = 188 | teamA = England | yearAstart = 2015 | yearAend = 24 | appearancesA = 13 | triesA = 6 | goalsA = 0 | fieldgoalsA = 0 | pointsA = 24 | refereecomp1 = {{nowrap|National Conference League}} | refereeyear1start = 2022 | refereeyear1end = present | refereeappearances1 = 3 | refereecomp2 = Challenge Cup | refereeyear2start = 2022 | refereeyear2end = present | refereeappearances2 = 1 | refereecomp3 = RFL League 1 | refereeyear3start = 2024 | refereeyear3end = present | refereeappearances3 = 1 | refereecomp4 = Super League | refereeyear4start = 2026 | refereeyear4end = present | refereeappearances4 = 1 | updated = {{date|{{REVISIONTIMESTAMP}}|DMY}} | source = <ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=09{{!}} Tara Jones |url=https://www.saintsrlfc.com/teams/sthelens-women/tara-jones/ |access-date=7 October 2024 |website=St.Helens R.F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007150622/https://www.saintsrlfc.com/teams/sthelens-women/tara-jones/ |archive-date= 7 October 2024}}</ref> }}
'''Tara Louise Jones''' is an English rugby league referee and former player. She was hooker for St Helens and the England national team. In both disciplines, her career took off in 2018, when she captained St Helens in their debut women's Super League and became the first female match official for the men's Super League.
== Early years == Jones was born in Germany<ref name=RFL63966/> and moved to Warrington as a child, taking up rugby at Crosfields Amateur Rugby League Football Club with her brother. She played with the team until she was eleven and no longer allowed to play with boys; she was able to play with the Warrington Girls' team, but also started refereeing courses as a way to continue being involved, finding that while the girls' team existed, it was underdeveloped compared to the boys'.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |title='Surreal and an honour' - female official Jones on creating history |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/43486351 |access-date=4 October 2022}}</ref>
==Career== ===Playing=== Jones played for Thatto Heath Crusaders women's side in St Helens at the start of her career.<ref name=":2" /> In 2014 she helped them to defeat Bradford Bulls Women in the Women's Challenge Cup,<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 August 2014 |title=Amateur game: Women's Rugby League round-up |url=https://www.totalrl.com/amateur-game-womens-rugby-league-round/ |access-date=4 October 2022 |website=Total Rugby League}}</ref> taking the same title against Featherstone Rovers the following year,<ref>{{cite web |title=Stanley racks up points in Challenge Cup triumph |url=https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/14662376.stanley-racks-up-points-in-challenge-cup-triumph/ |access-date=4 October 2022 |website=St Helens Star |language=en}}</ref> and Leigh Miners Rangers the year after that.<ref>{{cite web |date=1 August 2016 |title=Women's Rugby League Challenge Cup Final |url=http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2016/08/01/womens-rugby-league-challenge-cup-final/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426161641/http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2016/08/01/womens-rugby-league-challenge-cup-final/ |archive-date=26 April 2019 |access-date=26 April 2019 |work=4 The Love of Sport}}</ref>
Thatto Heath, smaller than the nearby St Helens R.F.C. Women, was bought out by this club ahead of the 2018 season. Jones was retained.<ref name="RLCom">{{cite web|title=Tara Jones: The first ever on-field female official in Betfred Super League|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/52000/tara-jones-the-first-ever-on-field-female-official-in-betfred-super-league|access-date=27 September 2022|website=Rugby-league.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927134854/https://www.rugby-league.com/article/52000/tara-jones-the-first-ever-on-field-female-official-in-betfred-super-league|archive-date=27 September 2022}}</ref><ref name=":2"/> She became St Helens' captain, leading them in the debut season of the RFL Women's Super League.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 August 2018 |title=Meet the woman rugby league star - who also referees the men's game |url=https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2018-08-21/meet-the-woman-rugby-league-star-who-also-referees-the-mens-game |access-date=27 September 2022 |website=ITV News |language=en}}</ref> For the 2019 season, she and Jodie Cunningham were named co-captains.<ref>{{cite news |date=8 March 2019 |title=Jodie Cunningham on choosing rugby over medicine |work=Sky Sports |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/11657966/jodie-cunningham-on-choosing-rugby-over-medicine |access-date=13 October 2021}}</ref> During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, all rugby league except the men's Super League shut down; Jones, whose three-pronged career is playing, officiating, and coaching rugby, had to find alternative employment for the year.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Women's Super League: St Helens' Tara Jones making the most of her life in rugby league |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/12417352/womens-super-league-st-helens-tara-jones-making-the-most-of-her-life-in-rugby-league |access-date=4 October 2022 |website=Sky Sports}}</ref> In 2021, she helped St Helens to win all three available trophies:<ref name=":2" /> the Challenge Cup, League Leaders' Shield, and Grand Final.<ref name=":3" /> Continuing in the team, in 2022 they said that her leadership and ball-playing thinking were "irreplaceable for the side".<ref name=":2" />
Internationally, Jones debuted for England in 2015 on tour to France, playing in both matches and scoring twice in the first match.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/27979/england-women-triumphant-in-tonneins-against-france |title=England Women triumphant in Tonneins against France |website=Rugby-league.com |date=17 June 2015 |access-date=18 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/26357/england-fightback-to-earn-a-draw-in-france |title=England fightback to earn a draw in France |website=Rugby-league.com |date=20 June 2015 |access-date=18 June 2024}}</ref> In November 2019, Jones played in both games against Papua New Guinea.<ref name=":5">{{cite web|title=Report: PNG Orchids 10-24 England Women|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/56015/report-png-orchids---england-women|access-date=4 October 2022|website=Rugby-league.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008024841/https://www.rugby-league.com/article/56015/report-png-orchids---england-women|archive-date=8 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/22786/preview-%7C-png-orchids-v-england-women |title=Preview {{!}} PNG Orchids v England Women |website=Rugb-league.com |date=15 November 2019 |access-date=18 June 2024}}</ref> She then scored a try for England in their 60–0 defeat of Wales in 2021, the squad's first game since the Papua New Guinea tour. She was then called up for preparation matches for the 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup,<ref name=":3" /> and the World Cup itself, postponed and held in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 September 2022 |title=England Women World Cup squad revealed |url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/60985/england-women-world-cup-squad-revealed |access-date=27 September 2022 |website=Rugby-League.com}}</ref> She was one of eight St Helens players who played the first match in this women's World Cup, passing well and scoring a try in their 72–4 victory over debutants Brazil.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saints' Amy Hardcastle scores three in England's World Cup win over Brazil |url=https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/23094142.amy-hardcastle-scores-three-englands-world-cup-win-brazil/ |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=St Helens Star |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=How England's Warringtonian trio did in their World Cup opener against Brazil |url=https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sport/latest_sport/23094192.england-thrash-brazil-rugby-league-world-cup-opener/ |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=Warrington Guardian |language=en}}</ref>
Jones announced her retirement from her playing career after St Helens defeat by York Valkyrie in the 2024 RFL Women's Super League Grand Final. The announcement was concurrent with the news from the Rugby Football League that Jones is joining the full-time match officials squad.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tara Jones: St Helens and England hooker retires from playing to referee full-time |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/c62mvjllelno |work=BBC Sport |date=7 October 2024}}</ref>
===Officiating=== Having started refereeing in 2009 at the age of twelve, Jones is part of the Warrington referees' society.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Hard work pays off for 'inspirational' Jones |url=https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sport/16089334.tara-jones-super-leagues-first-ever-female-on-field-match-official/ |access-date=27 September 2022 |website=Warrington Guardian |language=en}}</ref> Among her experience are Schools Championship games, including at Wembley.<ref name="RLCom" /> She became a grade two referee in early 2018, getting the opportunity to officiate academy games at the highest level.<ref name=":0" /> In January 2018, she took the lead at two Challenge Cup matches.<ref name=":1" /> She became the first female on-field match official in the (men's) Super League on 11 March 2018, serving as an in-goal judge;<ref name=RLCom/> she said that the support she got for this was "a bit surreal really", expressing her own support for the other female referees in the game coming through.<ref name=":0" /> While away for her first England game in November 2019, Jones was named National Conference League referee of the year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Tara |date=3 November 2019 |title=So the England staff pulled me to one side last night and told me that back home I have been awarded ... @OfficialNCL Referee of the year 2019! |url=https://twitter.com/taraj_tj/status/1190913471233150976 |access-date=4 October 2022 |website=Twitter}}</ref> As of September 2022, she has been the principal referee for three games, all in the Challenge Cup.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=Tara Jones (referee)|url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/referees/tara-jones.html|access-date=27 September 2022|website=Rugby League Project}}</ref>
Jones has said that she wants to become a higher-ranked official, but her priority is playing.<ref name=":3" /> While the mixed 2021 Rugby League World Cup hosted in England in 2022 saw female Australian and New Zealand match officials, there were no female English match officials; Jones would have been the selection but declined in order to play. She had made the same choice for the 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup, but was not picked for the team and so did not appear.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-31 |title=Why England's top female ref is playing at World Cup |url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/11/01/why-englands-top-female-ref-is-playing-at-world-cup/ |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=National Rugby League |language=en}}</ref>
Jones became the first woman to referee a senior men's match in the northern hemisphere when she took charge of the League One match between Oldham and Cornwall on 14 April 2024.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tara Jones: St Helens star to become first woman to referee senior northern hemisphere men's match |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/68778411 |work=BBC Sport |date=10 April 2024}}</ref>{{efn|Sarah Bennison refereed the second half of a league game between Workington Town and Swinton in 2011. Bennison was one of the touch judges and took over after the referee, Jamie Leahy, developed an uncontrollable nose-bleed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Andy |title=Female referee Sarah Bennison takes rugby league by storm |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/jul/15/sarah-bennison-female-referee-rugby-league |access-date=11 April 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=15 July 2011}}</ref>}}
At the end of 2024, Jones was appointed to the RFL full-time match officials squad, becoming the first woman to be appointed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tara Jones: St Helens legend ends playing career to become full-time rugby league referee |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/13229780/tara-jones-st-helens-legend-ends-playing-career-to-become-full-time-rugby-league-referee |access-date=7 October 2024 |work=Sky Sports |date=7 October 2024}}</ref> In December 2025, Jones was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to rugby league football, as a referee, in the 2026 New Year Honours.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=64940 |date=30 December 2025 |supp=1 |page=N20}}</ref>
Born in Germany where her father was stationed in the British Army, Jones has a close affinity with the Armed Forces and has officiated in the annual Armed Forces Rugby League festival at Crosfields ARLFC since its inception. In June 2025, she refereed the centrepiece game between Crosfields and the British Army.<ref name=RFL63966>{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/63966/rfl-match-official-tara-jones-reflects-on-a-special-weekend |title=RFL Match Official Tara Jones Reflects on a Special Weekend |website=Rugby Football League |date=3 July 2025 |access-date=3 February 2026}}</ref>
In February 2026, Jones became the first woman to officiate a game involving Super League clubs, taking charge of the Challenge Cup third round tie between Swinton Lions and Wakefield Trinity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bower |first1=Aaron |title=RFL Challenge Cup referees confirmed: Tara Jones makes history |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/rfl-challenge-cup-round-three-referees |work=Love Rugby League |date=3 February 2026 |language=en}}</ref> The following month she was named as the first woman to officiate a Super League fixture; namely the Round 6 game between Wigan Warriors and Huddersfield Giants on 28 March 2026<ref>{{cite web|website=BBC Sport|date=23 Mar 2026|title=Jones named first woman to referee in Super League|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/cvg0wvvw8qvo}}</ref>
== See also == * Julia Lee, the first English female rugby league referee at any level * Caitlin Beevers, the first woman to referee a rugby league match at Wembley
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{England 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup Squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Tara}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century English sportswomen Category:England women's national rugby league team players Category:English female rugby league players Category:English rugby league referees Category:English women referees and umpires Category:Rugby league hookers Category:Rugby league players from Warrington Category:St Helens Women RLFC players Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire