Badger to make history by refereeing Tonga-Wales World Cup match

Kasey Badger hopes her history making World Cup appointment to control next week’s round two Tonga-Wales clash is a stepping stone to refereeing NRL matches.

Badger, who is one of nine NRL referees in the World Cup match officials squad, is set to create history by becoming the first woman to control a men’s Test match when she takes charge of the fixture at St Helens.

“When they announced I was going to be doing the game I was shocked,” Badger said.

“I came here wanting to work across both the men’s and women’s World Cups, and thinking I could be touch judging the men’s tournament, so to get to do this is something I am definitely really happy about.

“If I go out there and perform to my ability and referee the game well, it is just another thing that shows I have got what it takes and hopefully that adds a bit to my resume as a reason to kick on and get a start in the NRL eventually.”

Photo: Badger was a touch judge in the France-Greece match (Getty Images)

Belinda Sharpe and New Zealand’s Rochelle Tamarua are the other female referees in the squad, and they are expected to control women’s World Cup matches, but Badger is the first woman appointed to control a men’s Test.

World Cup referees bosses Jared Maxwell and Steve Ganson stunned Badger when they announced the appointments for the second round of matches.

"They read out the appointments to the group and when they got to my game they said they'd had a chat about wanting to create some opportunities and be very inclusive, and there was going to be a history making moment this weekend," she said.

"I couldn’t believe it when they said I was going to be the referee."

Further history will be created at St Helens as Tamarua will be a touch judge in the match, along with Englishman Mike Smaill – the first time a World Cup fixture has had two female officials in charge.

Photo: Tamarua will also be a member of the officiating team (Getty Images)

“It is just good for the game, and it shows where our game is getting to, which is good to see,” Badger said.

Sharpe has been in charge of an NRL match but only under the two referee system, while she and Badger each controlled pre-season matches earlier this season.

The pair worked as touch judges during the NRL season and refereed in the NRLW, with Badger being in charge of the grand final between Newcastle and Parramatta.

“It is good that people have seen what I have done over the last season, in particular, but also the last number of years and have faith in me that I can perform at this level on the world stage,” Badger said.

“I definitely didn’t expect this to happen, and it hasn’t quite sunk in yet because I have also have another game on the touchline for Australia-Scotland so I have to get through that first and then shift my focus.”

Badger has also been appointed as a touch judge for the Kangaroos match against Scotland, which will be refereed by Grant Atkins, who sent off Lebanon five-eighth Adam Doueihi for dissent in their loss to the Kiwis.

She was a touch judge in the France-Greece match at Doncaster earlier this week.

Sharpe, who refereed the 2021 NRLW grand final played earlier this year, will be a touch judge in the New Zealand-Jamaica match at Hull.

Photo: Belinda Sharpe was a touch judge in the Tonga-PNG match (Getty Images)

NRL referee Gerrard Sutton, who controlled the 2017 World Cup final at Suncorp Stadium, has been given charge of the England-France match at Bolton, while Adam Gee will referee Ireland-Lebanon at Leigh.

English referee Jack Smith will referee the Fiji-Italy match in Newcastle, while Marcus Griffiths is in charge of New Zealand’s match against Jamaica and James Child will control Samoa’s clash with Greece at Doncaster.

Leading Super League referee Chris Kendall, who controlled Australia’s opening match against Fiji, will be in charge of the game between Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea in Warrington.