Women in Rugby League director Julia Lee has been awarded the honour of Member of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to rugby league, in particular for her advocacy for women’s rugby league and officiating
Julia is a pioneer of the game as both an official and an administrator, and has dedicated her career to promoting rugby league, and female inclusion in rugby league and beyond.
Born in Hull, and a lifelong Hull Kingston Rovers fan – Julia has been involved with the sport for over 40 years, working at every level from grassroots rugby to elite and international players.
As the first women to referee male players at open age level, Julia has blazed a unique trail in rugby league on the pitch, working in the UK and Australia as well as playing and coaching in Hull.
Off the pitch, Julia has founded clubs – Fulham Women in 1989 – acted in senior roles at organisations such as the Women’s Rugby League Association (WRLA), and been heavily involved in historic tours such as the 1996 Great Britain Lionesses tour of Australia – the last time a British side won a test series in Australia.
Julia was also instrumental in the establishment of the first women’s university league, and helped to organise the groundbreaking 2000 World Series – officially recognised as the first women’s rugby league world cup.
She has also had a significant effect on the men’s game, holding a number of senior roles within the Rugby Football League, the sport’s governing body.
During that time, Julia managed a team of 140 people and enjoyed huge successes such as securing £30 million in investment from Sport England in 2008.
She was also a Directorof the team that organized the Festival of World Cups in 2013, the first completely inclusive world cup competitions held simultaneously in rugby league history.
In recent years, Julia has been the director of Women in Rugby League (WIRL), an organisation dedicated to promoting, celebrating, and uncovering the often untold and overlooked history of women’s rugby league.
Through a series of successful projects, WIRL has brought to light the stories of countless women whose contributions to the sport might otherwise have gone unheard. It has also established a permanent archive at Heritage Quay, University of Huddersfield, dedicated exclusively to women’s rugby league—the first archive of its kind.
In 2022, she played a pivotal role in securing the first-ever inductions of women into the Rugby League Hall of Fame, as well as the awarding of caps and heritage numbers to 72 Great Britain players. In 2024, her work continued with the induction of the 1996 Great Britain women’s team—the last senior team to win the Ashes—as the first women’s team honoured in the Hall of Fame.
Also in 2022, Julia was inducted into the Rugby League Roll of Honour, the highest accolade for off-pitch contribution to the sport.
She is also currently a Trustee of the Hull Kingston Rovers Foundation and the Chair of Halifax Panthers.
Julia Lee’s lifelong dedication has reshaped rugby league, on and off the field.
She has opened pathways for women in sport, established systems of fairness and inclusion, and safeguarded a once-overlooked part of Britain’s sporting heritage.
Her impact endures through the thousands she has inspired, the organisations she has strengthened, and the history she has ensured will never again be forgotten.
Julia said “Rugby league has always played an important role in my life, from my early days on the terraces at Craven Park watching Hull Kingston Rovers, where I found my tribe.
“Who would have thought that a young girl from the streets of Hull would one day receive an MBE? I keep pinching myself.
“I feel incredibly fortunate that, for the majority of my career, I have been able to volunteer and work within rugby league and play a part in making a difference for so many people.
“I realised early on that sport—particularly rugby league—has the power to reach communities that are often neglected or disenfranchised.
“I have had the privilege of leading and contributing to many projects that have created real and lasting impact.
“I am especially proud of the Women in Rugby League projects, which have finally brought recognition to women who were hidden in the sport’s history.”