Ashley Klein
Australian rugby league referee (born 1979)
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Ashley Klein is an Australian rugby league referee. He first refereed in England, beginning his career in the Rugby League Conference, but returned to Australia and currently referees in the National Rugby League.[3]
Klein in 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 6 September 1979 Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Refereeing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Father | John Klein | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Klein refereed the NRL grand finals in 2018,[4] 2022,[5] and 2024.[6]
His first professional game was Workington Town v Featherstone Rovers on 8 September 2002. His first Super League game was Huddersfield Giants v Wakefield Trinity Wildcats on 15 June 2003. In 2006 Klein was named by the Rugby League International Federation as referee of the year.[7] Klein was in charge of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup Final in Australia. He quit the Super League in 2009 to return to Australia, to rejoin his wife and children.[8] In September 2024, he became the second person to reach 400 matches refereed in the NRL when he presided over the elimination final between the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the North Queensland Cowboys.[9][10]
Klein is a former Parramatta Eels junior referee.[11]
On 17 February 2012, Klein was the referee for the 2012 World Club Challenge match between Leeds Rhinos and Manly Sea Eagles at the Headingley Carnegie Stadium in Leeds which saw the English side win 26–12.[12] On 19 April 2013 he was the referee for the 2013 Anzac Test.[13]
As of 9 July 2025[update], Klein has refereed 20 State of Origin games.[14] He refereed the final of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England.[15]
