The RFL Match Officials are a select group of professional Rugby League match officials who officiate the top divisions of Rugby League in Britain.[1]
Officials are required to take part in a Fitness Test to maintain and or gain their status.
Match Official Department Staff
Phil Bentham was re-appointed as the RFL's Head of Match Officials in February 2024,[2] he previously held this post on an interim basis between Jan-March 2021 while Steve Ganson was on leave.
Dave Elliot served as interim Head of Match Officials for between Jan-Dec 2023 while an internal investigation took place into the department, ran by Steve Ganson from 2016. This concluded with Ganson leaving the RFL by mutual consent in December 2023.[3]
| Name |
Position
|
| Phil Bentham |
Head of Match Officials
|
| Dave Elliott |
Match Officials Coach
|
| Julian King |
Match Officials Coach
|
| Anthony Atherton
|
Match Officials Coach
|
| Chris Kendall |
Select Referee Group Manager
|
| Steve Williams |
Select Touch Judge Group Manager
|
| Tom Grant |
Entry & Emerging Referee Groups Manager
|
| Marcus Griffiths |
Women's Super League Squad Manager
|
| Ryan Cox |
Appointments and Development Officer
|
| Mike Smaill |
Match Officials Business Manager
|
| Matty Lynn |
Match Officials Administrator
|
Graded Match Officials[4]
To become an Elite match official, Grade 1 officials must have an interview with the Head of Match Officials.
| Grading
|
Referee
|
Touch Judge
|
| Elite
|
Super League
|
Super League
|
| 1 (Select)
|
Championship & League 1
|
Championship & League 1
|
| 2 (Emerging)
|
Academy/Reserves & Women's Super League
|
Reserves & Women's Super League
|
| 3 (Entry)
|
National Conference League & Scholarship
|
Academy & Scholarship
|
Elite Referees (RFL Full Time Match Officials)[5]
Since the 2007 season, the Rugby Football League have employed a panel of full-time officials. That panel currently has nine members.
Current Full Time Match Officials Squad
Managed by Phil Bentham.
| Name
|
Society
|
Age
|
Year Appointed
|
 Aaron Moore
|
Wigan
|
27 years, 7 days
|
2023
|
| Chris Kendall
|
Huddersfield
|
32 years, 171 days
|
2015
|
| Jack Smith
|
Wigan
|
35 years, 279 days
|
2022
|
| Liam Moore
|
Wigan
|
29 years, 146 days
|
2017
|
| Tara Jones
|
Warrington
|
28 years, 134 days
|
2025
|
| Tom Grant
|
Leeds
|
30 years, 136 days
|
2018
|
| Marcus Griffiths
|
Widnes
|
30 years, 189 days
|
2019
|
| Liam Rush
|
Dewsbury & Batley
|
24 years, 156 days
|
2022
|
 James Vella
|
St George Referees (Sydney, Australia)
|
35 years, 168 days
|
2022
|
Previous Full Time Match Officials
Elite Touch Judges (Super League)
Managed by Dave Elliot. By default the RFL Full Time Match Officials are graded as Elite Touch Judges.
| Name
|
Society
|
Name
|
Society
|
| Denton Arnold
|
St Helens
|
Tom Grant
|
Leeds
|
| Nick Bennett
|
Wakefield
|
Marcus Griffiths
|
Widnes
|
| Dean Bowmer
|
Wakefield
|
Chris Kendall
|
Huddersfield
|
| Peter Brooke
|
Manchester
|
Aaron Moore
|
Wigan
|
| Ryan Cox
|
St Helens
|
Liam Moore
|
Wigan
|
| Mark Craven
|
Leeds
|
Liam Rush
|
Dewsbury & Batley
|
| Simon Ellis
|
Dewsbury & Batley
|
Jack Smith
|
Wigan
|
| Neil Horton
|
Wakefield
|
Tara Jones
|
Warrington
|
| Gareth Jones
|
Warrington
|
James Vella
|
St George Referees (Sydney, Australia)
|
| Paul Marklove
|
Warrington
|
|
|
| Ellis McCarthy
|
Castleford & Featherstone
|
|
|
| Scott Mikalauskas
|
Leigh
|
|
|
| Jonathon Roberts
|
Leeds
|
|
|
| Richard Thompson
|
Hull
|
|
|
| Warren Turley
|
Leigh
|
|
|
| Cameron Worsley
|
Castleford & Featherstone
|
|
|
| Total Count = 25. Part Time = 16.
|
Full Time = 9.
|
Grade 1 Match Officials
Select Referees
Managed by Julian King & Chris Kendall.
| Name
|
Society
|
Name
|
Society
|
| Denton Arnold
|
St Helens
|
Sam Jenkinson
|
|
| Aaryn Belafonte
|
Huddersfield
|
Freddie Lincoln
|
Huddersfield
|
| Nick Bennett
|
Mid Yorkshire
|
Matty Lynn
|
|
| Alan Billington
|
Widnes
|
Scott Mikalauskas
|
Leigh
|
| Luke Bland
|
Leeds
|
Bradley Milligan
|
Cumbria
|
| Elliot Burrow
|
Cumbria
|
Kevin Moore
|
Mid Yorkshire
|
| Matty Clayton
|
|
Michael Smaill
|
Leigh
|
| Ryan Cox
|
St Helens
|
Andy Sweet
|
Mid Yorkshire
|
| Will Gilder
|
|
Adam Williams
|
Wigan
|
| Sam Houghton
|
Manchester
|
Cameron Worsley
|
Mid Yorkshire
|
| Carl Hughes
|
Mid Yorkshire
|
Kristoff Young
|
Wales
|
| Jordan Hughes
|
Cumbria
|
|
|
| Total Count = 23.
|
Select Touch Judges
Managed by Steve Williams.
| Name
|
Society
|
Name
|
Society
|
| Aaryn Belafonte
|
Huddersfield
|
Matty Lynn
|
|
| Alan Billington
|
Widnes
|
Ollie Maddock
|
Warrington
|
| Luke Bland
|
Leeds
|
Milo McKelvey
|
|
| Ben Brocklehurst
|
Mid Yorkshire
|
Bradley Milligan
|
Cumbria
|
| Elliot Burrow
|
Cumbria
|
Kevin Moore
|
Mid Yorkshire
|
| Jamie Callaghan
|
St Helens
|
Lewis Obrien
|
Wigan
|
| Alex Cameron
|
|
Josh Pemberton
|
Warrington
|
| Matty Clayton
|
|
Oliver Salmon
|
|
| James Collier
|
|
Lucas Seal
|
Cumbria
|
| J Collins
|
|
Gary Shaw
|
Wigan
|
| Luke Flavell
|
Wigan
|
Joe Sterne
|
Mid Yorkshire
|
| Tommy Gibbs
|
Mid Yorkshire
|
Andy Sweet
|
Mid Yorkshire
|
| Will Gilder
|
|
A Tallon
|
|
| A Giles
|
|
Jordan Unsworth
|
|
| Sam Houghton
|
Manchester
|
Adam Williams
|
Wigan
|
| Carl Hughes
|
Mid Yorkshire
|
G Winnard
|
|
| Jordan Hughes
|
Cumbria
|
H Winnard
|
|
| Sam Jenkinson
|
|
P Wroe
|
|
| Tara Jones
|
Warrington
|
Kristoff Young
|
Wales
|
| Freddie Lincoln
|
Huddersfield
|
|
|
| Total Count = 39.
|
Grade 2 Match Officials
Emerging Referees
Managed by Tom Grant.
| Name
|
Society
|
Name
|
Society
|
Name
|
Society
|
Name
|
Society
|
| Tolver Arnold
|
St Helens
|
C Curren
|
|
A McDonald
|
|
Pete Smith
|
|
| M Apsee
|
|
C Davies
|
|
Milo McKelvey
|
|
Joe Sterne
|
Castleford & Featherstone
|
| J Bacon
|
|
Simon Ellis
|
|
R Mitchell
|
|
A Tallon
|
|
| Dylan Barlow
|
Wigan
|
Luke Flavell
|
Wigan
|
Lewis Obrien
|
Wigan
|
Warren Turley
|
Leigh
|
| O Bowie
|
|
Tommy Gibbs
|
|
G Pallet
|
|
G Winnard
|
London
|
| Dean Bowmer
|
Wakefield
|
A Giles
|
|
Neil Pascall
|
|
H Winnard
|
London
|
| Ben Brocklehurst
|
Castleford
|
Connor Griffiths
|
Warrington
|
Josh Pemberton
|
Warrington
|
Brandon Worsley
|
Castleford & Featherstone
|
| F Brown
|
|
Neil Horton
|
|
Craig Regan
|
Cumbria
|
|
|
| Jamie Callaghan
|
St Helens
|
Owen Ireland
|
|
A Rhodes
|
|
|
|
| Alex Cameron
|
|
J Kinsley
|
|
Oliver Salmon
|
|
|
|
| James Collier
|
|
D Krout
|
|
Reece Schofield
|
Manchester
|
|
|
| J Collins
|
|
Phil Loeb
|
Warrington
|
Lucas Seal
|
Cumbria
|
|
|
| M Cowan
|
|
Ollie Maddock
|
Warrington
|
Gary Shaw
|
Wigan
|
|
|
| A Creasey
|
|
Paul Marklove
|
Warrington
|
Kristian Silcock
|
St Helens
|
|
|
| Total Count = 49
|
Emerging Touch Judges
Managed by Ryan Cox.
| Name
|
Society
|
Name
|
Society
|
Name
|
Society
|
| M Apsee
|
|
D Frederick
|
|
K O'Shea
|
|
| R Apsee
|
|
D Geddes
|
|
G Pallet
|
|
| Innes Arnold
|
St Helens
|
Jordan Greenhalgh
|
Widnes
|
Neil Pascall
|
|
| Tolver Arnold
|
St Helens
|
Connor Griffiths
|
Warrington
|
Shaun Pickering
|
St Helens
|
| Jack Bacon
|
Wigan
|
Lee Haggerty
|
St Helens
|
S Quarmby
|
|
| Dylan Barlow
|
Wigan
|
S Harrison
|
|
Craig Regan
|
Cumbria
|
| Ronan Bird
|
Widnes
|
R Holmes
|
|
R Rhodes
|
|
| O Bowie
|
|
Jamie Hooper
|
Castleford & Featherstone
|
Reece Schofield
|
Manchester
|
| L Breheny
|
Wigan
|
Rhiannon Horsman
|
Leeds
|
S Shea
|
|
| F Brown
|
|
Owen Ireland
|
|
Kristian Silcock
|
St Helens
|
| P Clayton
|
|
Liam Jones
|
St Helens
|
Adam Smith
|
|
| L Corcoran
|
|
J Kinsley
|
|
Pete Smith
|
|
| Andrew Coupar
|
St Helens
|
D Krout
|
|
B Thomas
|
|
| M Cown
|
|
K Lewis
|
|
C Topping
|
|
| G Cox
|
|
Phil Loeb
|
Warrington
|
T Topping
|
|
| I Curzon
|
|
Andy Marsh
|
Wigan
|
Rebecca Whiteley
|
Huddersfield/Wigan
|
| C Davies
|
|
M Mills
|
|
A Woods
|
|
| Rebecca Floyd
|
St Helens
|
R Mithchell
|
|
Jack Woolass
|
Hull
|
| H Forster
|
|
Mia Murphy
|
Leigh
|
Brandon Worsley
|
Castleford & Featherstone
|
| Stuart Fraser
|
Midlands
|
B Neilson
|
|
Esmai Wright
|
Warrington
|
| Total Count = 60.
|
Grade 3 Match Officials
Entry Referees
Managed by Tom Grant.
| Name
|
Society
|
Name
|
Society
|
Name
|
Society
|
| Anthony Atherton
|
Wigan
|
Harry Forster
|
|
Logan Miles
|
|
| T Bell
|
|
Jordan Greenhalgh
|
Widnes
|
M Mills
|
|
| J Berry
|
|
Liam Grundy
|
|
Andrew Mulligan
|
St Helens
|
| Ronan Bird
|
Widnes
|
Lee Haggerty
|
St Helens
|
Mia Murphy
|
Leigh
|
| M Bolton
|
|
S Harrison
|
|
R Nevinson
|
|
| N Bragg
|
|
Andy Hawley
|
Warrington
|
Tom Prescott
|
St Helens
|
| L Breheny
|
Wigan
|
Johnatan Hewitt
|
Mid Yorkshire
|
Shaun Pickering
|
St Helens
|
| M Brighton
|
|
Ryan Holmes
|
Dewsbury & Batley
|
Sam Price
|
Wigan
|
| D Brown
|
|
Jamie Hooper
|
Castleford & Featherstone
|
S Quarmby
|
|
| I Carson
|
Leigh
|
Rhiannon Horsman
|
Leeds
|
R Rhodes
|
|
| Steve Cockram
|
St Helens
|
S Powell
|
|
Matt Roberts
|
Bradford
|
| L Corcoran
|
|
Liam Jones
|
St Helens
|
Dan Saunders
|
Leeds
|
| Andrew Coupar
|
St Helens
|
Naz Khan
|
Warrington
|
A Smith
|
|
| G Cox
|
|
D Kindelan
|
|
Dave Swindlehurst
|
Wigan
|
| Lucas Dabbs
|
Leigh
|
Alex Leaf
|
Leeds
|
T Topping
|
|
| J Davey
|
|
C MacDonald
|
|
E Watson
|
|
| F Evans
|
|
Andy Marsh
|
Wigan
|
A Woods
|
|
| J Evans
|
|
M Martin
|
|
Jack Woolass
|
Hull
|
| O Filer
|
|
Ross McCarthy
|
St Helens
|
Esmai Wright
|
Warrington
|
| Rebecca Floyd
|
St Helens
|
Callum Murphy
|
Wigan
|
|
| Total Count = 59.
|
Entry Touch Judges
Managed by Ryan Cox.
| Name
|
Society
|
Name
|
Society
|
Name
|
Society
|
| Anthony Atherton
|
Wigan
|
J Hewitt
|
|
A Tallon
|
|
| T Bell
|
|
Naz Khan
|
Warrington
|
B Thomas
|
|
| J Berry
|
|
D Kindelan
|
|
E Watson
|
|
| M Bolton
|
|
C Lawson
|
|
A Woods
|
|
| K Bonsor
|
|
A Leaf
|
|
|
|
| N Bragg
|
|
C MacDonald
|
|
|
|
| D Brown
|
|
M Martin
|
|
|
|
| I Carson
|
Leigh
|
Ross McCarthy
|
St Helens
|
|
|
| Steve Cockram
|
St Helens
|
L Miles
|
|
|
|
| L Collins
|
|
Callum Murphy
|
Wigan
|
|
|
| Lucas Dabbs
|
Leigh
|
R Nevinson
|
|
|
|
| J Davey
|
|
S Powell
|
|
|
|
| F Evans
|
|
Tom Prescott
|
|
|
|
| O Filer
|
|
Sam Price
|
Wigan
|
|
|
| O Foulkes
|
|
J Raddings
|
|
|
|
| J Foxon
|
|
M Roberts
|
|
|
|
| Cameron Gray
|
London
|
D Saunders
|
|
|
|
| L Grundy
|
|
P Strafford
|
|
|
|
| Andy Hawley
|
Warrington
|
Dave Swindlehurst
|
Wigan
|
R Nevinson
|
|
|
| Total Count = 44.
|
| Period
|
Manufacturers
|
Sponsors
|
| 2003-2006 |
Patrick
|
Powergen
|
| 2007
|
Engage
|
| 2008-2009
|
Puma
|
| 2010-2012
|
ISC
|
| 2013
|
none
|
| 2014
|
Specsavers
|
| 2015-2017
|
BLK
|
| 2018
|
Hummel
|
| 2019-2020
|
Ronseal
|
| 2021-2026
|
Oxen
|
See also
References
