Robin Whitfield
English rugby league referee (1943–2025)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robin Whitfield (26 November 1943 – 20 July 2025) was an English rugby league player and referee. As a player, he was a fullback for his hometown club Widnes, and later went on to play for Barrow and Huyton. After finishing his playing career, he became a referee, officiating his first professional game in 1980. He took charge of three Challenge Cup finals, and regularly refereed international matches throughout the 1980s.
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 26 November 1943 Widnes, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 20 July 2025 (aged 81) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Refereeing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: [1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Biography
Whitfield was born in Widnes, Cheshire on 26 November 1943.[2] He began playing rugby league as a fullback for his hometown club, Widnes. A prolific goal-kicker, he kicked 11 goals in a match in 1965, a club record which stood for over 30 years.[3] He moved to Barrow in August 1969, where he made 45 appearances before transferring to Huyton a year later.[4]
He eventually ended his playing career due to a poor disciplinary record and turned to refereeing.[5] He was added to the Rugby Football League's Grade One referee's list during the 1980–81 season.[2] He went on to officiate three Challenge Cup finals (in 1983, 1986 and 1992).[6] He also took charge of the third game in the 1983 State of Origin series.[7]
Throughout his career, he refereed over 400 games, both domestically and internationally,[8] before retiring in 1994.[9]
Whitfield died after suffering from Alzheimer's disease on 20 July 2025, at the age of 81.[10]
Personal life
Whitfield was the elder brother of Colin Whitfield, who played rugby league for Wigan and Salford.[5]
