 | |||
| Full name | James Child | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (1983-07-04)4 July 1983 (age 42) Dewsbury, England | ||
| Other occupation | Surveyor | ||
| Domestic | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2006–2009 | Championship | Referee | |
| 2010–2022 | Super League | Referee | |
| International | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2012–2022 | IRL listed | Referee | |
James Child (born 4 July 1983)[1] is a former Englishrugby league referee. He was one of theRugby Football League'sFull Time Match Officials.[2]
On 19 December 2022, Child announced that he would be stepping down as referee, ahead of the 2023 season.[3]
James started refereeing at the age of 11 years as a member of the Dewsbury & Batley Rugby League Referees' Society.[4] Since then he has enjoyed many notable successes, particularly as a touch judge having officiated at the 2006, 2007 and 2008Challenge Cup Finals, the 2007 and 2008Super League Grand Finals and most notably the2008 Rugby League World Cup Final.[5]
As a referee, his first professional game wasGateshead Thunder vWorkington Town on 17 April 2006, before making hisSuper League debut on 15 March 2009 withWakefield Trinity Wildcats vCatalans Dragons. This came a week after he officiated theRugby League Varsity Match betweenOxford University andCambridge University at theTwickenham Stoop.
On 11 January 2010, he was promoted to the RFL's elite refereeing squad for 2010'sSuper League XV.[6]
In December 2022, Child retired as a match official after more than 10 years.[7]
He is a member of theDewsbury andBatley Rugby League Referees' Society.[8][9]
He combines his role asSuper League referee, with a part-time job as a Charteredsurveyor forLeeds City Council.
In February 2021, in an interview for BBC Sport, Child confirmed that he is gay, something known to his family, friends and colleagues for some time.[10][11][12]
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