After being made redundant as a rugby union referee, James Jones worked his way back to the top ... in rugby league
By Gavin Willacy for No Helmets Required
When James Jones was made redundant by the Welsh Rugby Union at the age of 34, he expected to spend the rest of his life as a lawyer. Eight years on, Jones is now among rugby league’s top officials and hoping to get his chance in Super League.
You refereed superstar rugby union players such as Jonny Wilkinson, Brian O’Driscoll and Sam Warburton. What was the highlight? “Probably the
World Cup Sevens in Dubai in 2009. They were looking to get sevens into the Olympics and so all the Olympic committee big hitters were there, so it had to go well. It got the green light. I was refereeing at my best but Wales went and won it, so I couldn’t ref the final! I was on the World Sevens circuit for six or seven years on and off. It was a unique and excellent experience.”