African Rugby League Referees Anticipate Bright Future
International Rugby League lead match official educator James Jones told reporters at the closing ceremony of the 2025 Rugby League Tri‑Nation Festival in Ghana that African referees are poised for a bright future on the world stage.
Jones praised the progress of Ghanaian officials, saying their development reflects rising officiating standards across West Africa. “It’s been very positive working with these Ghanaian match officials. There has been great work going on behind the scenes in Ghana,” he said, adding that the International Rugby League Federation is investing heavily in further education and training.
The Welsh referee also highlighted the federation’s commitment to giving African referees international exposure. “We are working to get more match officials and educators involved, and to hold more workshops, because if there are no match officials, there is no game,” Jones explained.
He described Ghana’s recent gain of full rugby league recognition as “a massive step in the right direction” for local referees. According to Jones, match officials form the cornerstone of the sport’s growth, acting as a crucial part of the development pathway.
During his week‑long stay, Jones oversaw the final technical education modules for Rugby League Federation Ghana officials. He signed off five Level‑One and three Level‑Two match officials, moving them further along the IRL education continuum.
The festival’s highlight was the men’s “Jollof Derby” between Ghana’s Leopards and arch‑rivals Nigeria, followed by the closing match against the USA Roots at the University of Ghana Rugby Stadium, Legon. Jones took charge of both games, assisted by Ghanaian touch officials Marshall Nortey and Jacqueline Ansah – the nation’s first female Level‑2 match official, soon to be accredited.
Ansah previously became the first woman to officiate a senior men’s match in Africa during the 2022 Middle East‑Africa Championship in Accra. Nortey, alongside Kenya’s Brian Odiwuory, recently officiated at the Euro C Championship in Italy and is now pursuing IRL Level‑1 Match Official Educator accreditation, which will enable him to train officials across the sub‑region.
Other Ghanaian officials close to certification include Elizabeth Adongo, Jennifer Moncar, John Bless Mensah, Seth Mac‑Bruce, Andy Anang, Alfred Ocloo Jnr and Kwabena Kyem Gyawu (Ashanti) at Level 1, while Nortey, Ansah and Chris Da‑Gama Idan Odum are set to qualify at Level 2.
Jones, Wales’ first dual‑code international referee in 2021, has since officiated in the Betfred Super League, League One and numerous international fixtures, bringing a wealth of experience to Ghana’s burgeoning referee community.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
