Referees list for Rugby League World Cup confirmed with top Super League names included

[josie andrews]

The best officials in the world will be on show!

The world's best rugby league referees have been selected to officiate this year's Rugby League World Cup. Tournament officials have revealed a list of almost 30 officials that will referee the men's and women's tournaments - and it features some of the most recognisable names in the game.

Chief among them is Gerard Sutton, arguably the leading referee in the NRL. Former Super League official Ashley Klein, who now works in the NRL alongside Sutton, is also included. There are also some of the most prominent names in Super League on the list too.

That includes Liam Moore, who recently officiated the Super League Grand Final between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos. Other top officials including James Child and Chris Kendall are on the list too.

There are also three female officials on the list with Kasey Badger, Belinda Sharpe and Rochelle Tamura set to officiate across the men’s and women’s tournament fixtures. The officials list for the wheelchair tournament has been revealed too, with eight officials from five different nations set to referee the matches.

RLWC2021 head of match officials Steve Ganson said: “With the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments running together simultaneously for the very first time it was vital that we assembled the best possible team of officials for all three tournaments. This is a vastly experienced group with a huge wealth of domestic and international experience that will play their part in ensuring Rugby League World Cup 2021 is officiated to the best standard possible.”

RFL: Dean Bowmer, James Child, Tom Grant, Marcus Griffiths, Robert Hicks, Neil Horton, Chris Kendall, Aaron Moore, Liam Moore, Liam Rush, Michael Small, Jack Smith, Ben Thaler, Warren Turley, James Vella.

NRL: Grant Atkins, Kasey Badger, Darian Furner, Adam Gee, Ashley Klein, Wyatt Raymond, Belinda Sharpe, Todd Smith, Gerard Sutton.

NZRL: Paki Parkinson, Rochelle Tamarua.

FFRXIII: Ben Casty, Geoffrey Pommes.

Wheelchair tournament officials

Kim Abel, Laurent Abrial, Matthew Ball, David Butler, Ollie Cruickshank, Steven Hewson, Grant Jackson, David Roig.

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... s-25180613