Tara Jones to referee New Zealand v Samoa Women's World Cup semi-final

Tara Jones, who won 13 caps for England as a player, will referee the Rugby League World Cup women's semi-final between New Zealand and Samoa in Newcastle, New South Wales on Saturday, 7 November. Four years earlier she played for England in a World Cup semi-final.

A former St Helens hooker, Jones won a Women's Super League title, two League Leaders' Shields and four Challenge Cups with Saints, and became the first woman to score a try in a Challenge Cup final at Wembley in 2023, a year before her retirement. She has gone one stage further at this tournament than either England's men or women managed this time around.

Jones began refereeing as a child and says tests of character came early in that role; she recalled one of her earliest games when, aged 12, she had to send off a misbehaving parent on the sideline. "I remember at 12 years of age sending off a parent who was stood on the sideline. You've got to have broad shoulders and stick up for yourself," she added.

Reflecting on her route into the sport to BBC Radio Merseyside in March, Jones described being taken to training by her father while her mother preferred she took up dance: "My brother played and my dad took him training - he was the team manager. I was probably that annoying little kid who was trying to join in but getting in the way a little bit," she told BBC Radio Merseyside in March. "My mum wouldn't let me play because I was her little girl, and I think she wanted me to be a dancer. I was never going to be a dancer... or ballet, or gymnastics, or something like that. My dad secretly took my across to my own age group and let me play. "Unfortunately, when I got to the end of Under-11s, I was then told I couldn't carry on. Back then, the opportunities for girls to play rugby were few and far between. "It's much better now. But that's why I went into officiating. I was a bit stubborn, and I was told that I couldn't do something within the sport that I loved. "I was like: Well, I will find a different avenue, and no-one's going to tell me I can't be involved in this sport at the top level and within the boys' side of it."

Officiating in her first major international tournament, Jones has taken charge of three games at the Women's World Cup so far, including England's 70-6 victory over Wales on 17 October and two France matches, against New Zealand and Fiji. She has documented the time and work she has put in behind the scenes at the World Cup on her Instagram account.

Jones joined the RFL match officials department on a full-time basis two years ago and is one of three UK-based officials at the World Cup alongside Liam Moore and Chris Kendall. She was made an MBE for her services to the sport and in March became the first woman to referee a men's Super League fixture; when her semi-final appointment was announced on Tuesday, RFL match officials department general manager Andy Smith said Jones "is building a reputation as one of the world's top officials".

Jones was born in Germany, where her father was serving in the Army at the time, and was raised in Warrington. She said on the impact officiating has had on her personally: "I was probably a bit shy as a kid as well, to be honest, and not really out there. But put me on a rugby field and I'm just a different person. Over time, that confidence has grown within me off the field as well, and it's made me the person that I am. "So it's definitely given me those attributes and life skills as I've been growing up. "I hope I can inspire young girls - and match officials in general. It's a bonus if I can get young girls into the sport. "I've had parents say to me: I tell my little girl about everything you've achieved, because I want her to look up to you, and be like you, and know there are opportunities for her to do that. "On a personal level, my own nephew, who is seven, said to his dad, 'There's Auntie Tara on the news,' when I was receiving my MBE. 'I want to be like Tara.' "That was a really special moment when I got told my own nephew aspires to be like me and wants to go on and achieve big things."

Rugby League World Cup: New Zealand v Samoa Saturday, 7 November, 06:45 GMT Listen to live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app