Ron Campbell (referee)
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| Born | 8 March 1936 Widnes, England | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 17 April 2026 (aged 90) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Second-row | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Refereeing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ron Campbell (8 March 1936 – 17 April 2026) was an English rugby league referee and player. As a player, he was a second-row forward for Liverpool City. After finishing his playing career, he became a referee. He took charge of the 1985 Challenge Cup final, and refereed several international matches throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Biography
Campbell was born in Widnes, Cheshire on 8 March 1936.[2][3] He began playing rugby league as a second-row forward for amateur club, Widnes St Maries. After an unsuccessful trial with Salford, he later played professionally for Liverpool City.[4]
When he ended his playing career in 1969, Campbell turned to refereeing. He was added to the Rugby Football League's Grade One referee's list during the 1974–75 season.[3] He took charge of his first international match in January 1978.[5] Later that year, he officiated the first Test between Great Britain and Australia of the 1978 Kangaroo Tour.[6]
In July 1982, Campbell was diagnosed with cancer, and missed most of the following season while receiving treatment.[4] He made a full recovery, and went on to be appointed as referee of the 1985 Challenge Cup final. Campbell was praised for his officiating of the match,[7][8] which is often regarded as the greatest final in Challenge Cup history.[9][10]
Throughout his career, he refereed over 250 games, as well as eight Test matches, before retiring in 1986, aged 50.[2]
Campbell died in April 2026, at the age of 90.[2]
References
- ↑ "Ron Campbell - Referee Career". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 "RFL pays tribute to Ronnie Campbell". Rugby Football League. 17 April 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- 1 2 Fletcher, Raymond; Howes, David, eds. (1981). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1981-82. Rothmans Publications. ISBN 978-0-907574-07-1.
- 1 2 "Wembley ref's cancer battle". Manchester Evening News. 23 April 1985. p. 42 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Top game for Ron". Widnes Weekly News. 16 December 1977. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Woodhead, Leslie (19 October 1978). "It's the big one as Ron's dedication pays off". Liverpool Echo. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Marvellous game - Ref". Football Echo. Liverpool Echo. 11 May 1985. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Our Wembley ref was a real winner". Pink Extra. Manchester Evening News. 25 May 1985. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Challenge Cup: Brett Kenny recalls Wigan v Hull FC final of 1985". BBC Sport. 22 August 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "Revisiting the classic Challenge Cup final of 1985 between Wigan and Hull". The Guardian. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2026.