Super League referee Ben Thaler to hang up whistle following one last game at Belle Vue

The Normanton native has taken charge of more than 700 senior matches, including 441 at Super League level since 2005.

Thaler is part of an elite group of officials to have refereed at all of the sport's major events, while he was also the video referee for the 2017 World Cup final.

The 43-year-old is set to take up a new role with the Rugby Football League in the recruitment and development of match officials. He will continue to be available for video referee duties in his new position.

"I still remember receiving support as a pupil at Normanton Freeston High School in 1994 to do my refereeing course.

"I'm now chair of the governors at the same school so it must have been a long time ago.

"If you'd said to me then that I'd be retiring as a referee 30 years later, after 20 seasons refereeing in the Super League with so many incredible memories and experiences, working alongside some amazing officials and having refereed some of the best players in the world, I'd have thought you had a very good imagination.

"After doing a lot of work in the past in recruitment and development of young match officials, I'm looking forward to a new challenge, concentrating on that role and giving something back to the sport that I have been so lucky to be part of at the highest level for almost 25 years."

RFL chief executive Tony Sutton added: "On behalf of the governing body and the wider sport of rugby league, we thank and congratulate Ben for his refereeing career.

"Officiating in any sport can be as demanding as it is essential. To maintain a position among rugby league's leading officials for more than two decades has required physical and mental commitment and resilience.

"I'm delighted that Ben has taken up a new role with the RFL which will allow him to share his vast experience with future generations of match officials, as well as continuing as a video referee – and wish him a successful last game in the middle at Wakefield this Sunday."