Ben Thaler
Benjamin Drew Thaler is a professional rugby league referee and one of the Rugby Football League's Full Time Match Officials. He officiates in the Men's Super League.
On 24 September 2024, Thaler announced that he will be stepping down as a referee, to take up a new role with the RFL.
Background
Thaler was brought up in Normanton, West Yorkshire, England.Career
Ben's first pro game was against Leigh v York City Knights on 1 July 2001.His first Super League game was against the London Broncos v Leigh on 29 May 2005.
He was a part of a New Zealand referee exchange in 2005.
He was the referee for both the 2015 Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford, and the 2015 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.
He was the referee for the 2017 Million Pound Game, which saw Leigh Centurions relegated from Super League, and Hull Kingston Rovers promoted, in a straight swap of the two clubs promoted and relegated from the previous season.
International
Thaler has refereed 19 Internationals to date:1. Georgia 0 V 60 France 2005
2. Lebanon 22 V 8 Russia 2006
3. USA 37 V 22 Jamaica 2009
4. Wales 6 V 13 Italy 2010
5. England 18 V 10 Exiles 2012
6. England 20 V 32 Exiles 2012
7. Scotland 18 V 30 Ireland 2012
8. USA 32 V 20 Cook Islands 2013
9. Tonga 16 V 0 Italy 2013
10. Wales 14 V 46 Ireland 2014
11. England 26 V 12 New Zealand 2015
12. Ireland 4 V 30 Wales 2015
13. England 20 V 14 New Zealand 2015
14. Scotland 12 V 54 Australia 2016
15. England 29 V 10 Lebanon 2017
16. Wales 6 V 34 Ireland 2017
17. England 36 V 18 New Zealand 2018
18. Jamaica 38 V 8 Canada 2018
19. Jamaica 16 V 10 USA 2018
He was the video referee for Wales v Ireland on 1 November 2009. for the Rugby League European Cup.
He was the video referee for Wales v Scotland on 8 November 2009.
He was the referee and video referee in various 2013 Rugby League World Cup games.
He was the referee and video referee in various games in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. He went on to be the Video Referee for the Final.