Chris James is an Australian former rugby league referee who controlled 228 first-grade games.
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Career
James started his career controlling matches in the Group Six Rugby League competition.[2] He was graded into the NSWRLRA in 2004, becoming referee number 900.[3] In 2009 he made his National Rugby League debut, controlling a match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Newcastle Knights. That year, he also controlled the Jim Beam Cup grand final and matches at the Pacific Cup.[1]
He became a regular first grade referee and controlled the 2013 City vs Country Origin match. His 100th NRL game was on 5 April 2014, between the Penrith Panthers and the Canberra Raiders.[3] In 2016, Tyson Frizell was suspended for a match for making contact with James, during a match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.[4]
He was sacked by the National Rugby League in 2017 and took legal action, backed by the Professional Rugby League Match Officials and Unions NSW.[5] The parties reached a confidential settlement in 2018.[6]
James was appointed Football Operations Manager of the Sydney Roosters in 2020.