The RFL can confirm that Head of Match Officials, Jon Sharp, has left the organisation.
Jon joined the RFL in January 2011, initially as a technical advisor following a career as a player with Hull FC and Featherstone Rovers and as a coach with Great Britain, St Helens, Huddersfield Giants, Hull FC and Crusaders RL.
RFL Chief Operating Officer Ralph Rimmer said: “We would like to thank Jon for his contribution in what has been an exciting period of transition for the game.
“As a former player and first team coach, Jon brought a fresh perspective to the Match Officials department and has played an important role in the development of the sport’s referees and touch-judges at the elite level.
“Jon leaves with our best wishes.”
Jon Sharp said: “The last three and a half years have been some of the most rewarding of my career and I am pleased that I had the opportunity to work alongside a group of match officials whose professionalism and expertise is world class.
“Just as the sport has made the most of the opportunities that have emerged from the new era, I have no doubt that the Rugby League Match Officials will build on the high standards that we have set.”
Consideration will now be given over the forthcoming weeks to the implications for the department and how the vacated role will be replaced.
Sharp has since leaving the RFL been appointed as Featherstone Rovers new head coach on a two-and-a-half year contract.
Featherstone-born Jon will take up his new role with immediate effect and is relishing the challenge of helping his home-town club realise its ambitions in the sport’s exciting new era.
Rovers are currently fifth in the Kingstone Press Championship and with three league fixtures before the competition splits into the Super 8s, Sharp believes a top-four finish is an achievable goal.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be back in club coaching, especially at a club which means so much to me,” said Sharp.
“I enjoyed my time working with the sport’s match officials but I really missed being involved with the cut and thrust of working with players and preparing for games on a weekly basis.
“I played at Featherstone for a couple of seasons almost 20 years ago and have great memories of that time: I also cut my teeth as a coach with the club’s Academy and there is a real sense of ‘coming home’ about being here again.
“Featherstone Rovers is one of the sport’s most famous names and I feel honoured and privileged to have this chance.
“It’s a long time since Featherstone were in the top flight and my aim is to put the club back where it belongs. That hasn’t really been achievable during the Super League era but the new league structure has given the club a realistic chance of achieving its ambitions.
“We play Leigh Centurions this weekend and it’s a tough start but one I’m sure everyone here at Featherstone is looking forward to: Leigh have set the standards in the Championship in the last two years and this is an opportunity for Featherstone to show what we are capable of.
“There is a cracking squad here at Rovers, a good strong blend of experienced players and high quality youngsters: my job is to bring out the best in them and that’s the most exciting part of it for me.
“The facilities here at Featherstone really are first class: the Big Fellas Stadium is the best stadium in the area by a long way and the training facilities are outstanding, all of which is a credit to the club’s chairman Mark Campbell.
“Mark’s ambitions for the club, both on and off the field, are infectious and have inspired me to come and work at Featherstone.”
Featherstone Rovers chairman Mark Campbell said: “Jon is the perfect coach to deliver the club on the next stage of our journey towards Super League.
“His knowledge of both the club and the game is second to none and we are delighted that he has accepted our offer to become head coach.
“We haven’t seen the best of Featherstone Rovers so far this season and I have no doubts that Jon will help us realise our potential in the weeks, months and years ahead.”
Jon Sharp played for Featherstone in 1996 and 1997 having previously enjoyed a successful 11-season career at Hull FC. He was appointed coach of Featherstone Rovers Academy in 1998 and had gone on to coach Huddersfield Giants and Crusaders.
Jon was also an assistant coach with Great Britain and has spent the last three years as Match Officials coach with the Rugby Football League.