Tara Jones MBE Handed World Cup Semi-Final Four Years After Playing in One

Referee Tara Jones MBE has been awarded a Rugby League World Cup semi-final, just four years after playing in one. Jones has been chosen to take charge of Saturday's clash between New Zealand and Samoa at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, after impressing during her first tournament as an official, with fellow Super League referees Liam Moore and Chris Kendall also on duty Down Under. The appointment caps a remarkable journey. Jones played for England in the 2022 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in York before joining the RFL match officials department on a full-time basis two years ago. She became the first woman to referee a Super League game in March and has since received an MBE for services to the sport. During this tournament she has been in the middle for three group games: England against Wales, New Zealand against France and Fiji against France. RFL match officials department general manager Andy Smith said Jones's appointment to the finals stages of the World Cup was tremendous news both for her and for the sport. Saturday's semi-final, kicking off at 5:45pm AEDT, is the first-ever World Cup semi-final for Samoa's Fetu side, who reached the last four with a 24-6 win over England, while New Zealand topped their pool with a 40-12 victory over Papua New Guinea. Jones's presence in the middle adds another historic layer to a match that already has plenty.