Jones stated she started officiating when she was not in a position to play rugby league with boys after coming to the tip of an under-11s season.
“I went over to a ladies’ crew and again then the alternatives for women to play rugby had been few and much between,” she stated.
“It is a lot better now however that is why I went into officiating, as a result of I used to be a bit cussed and I used to be advised I could not do one thing inside the sport I really like.
“I used to be like, I’ll discover a completely different avenue and nobody goes to inform me I can not be concerned on this sport on the prime degree within the boys’ facet of it.
“So I made a decision to enter officiating and I have never regarded again.”
As a participant, Jones received a Girls’s Tremendous League title, two League Leaders’ Shields and 4 Problem Cups earlier than retiring in 2024.
She has been refereeing within the males’s recreation for a 12 months and stated the gamers “simply see me as one other referee”.
“I feel the largest drawback they’ve, is what do they name me?” she stated.
“I get that query each week and I discover it fairly humorous. I perceive they’re used to having male referees and so they at all times tackle them as ‘sir’.
“They’re solely making an attempt to be respectful. I simply inform them to name me ‘ref’ or ‘Tara’ and in the event that they do name me ‘sir’ as a result of it is behavior, then don’t be concerned about it.
“I am not offended as a result of I do know they’re making an attempt to be respectful and do the correct factor.”
Jones stated she hopes she could be a “trailblazer” for younger girls in rugby league.
“I attempt to be and I need to be – I simply do what I do and I hope I can encourage younger ladies,” she added.
“Simply this week I’ve had a message from a younger woman who has simply began refereeing to say that I’ve impressed her to strive it and provides it a go.
“Which means a hell of so much to me.”
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