James started refereeing at the age of 11 years as a member of the Dewsbury & Batley Rugby League Referees' Society. Since then he has enjoyed many notable successes, particularly as a touch judge having officiated at the 2006, 2007 and 2008
Challenge Cup Finals, the 2007 and 2008
Super League Grand Finals and most notably the
2008 Rugby League World Cup Final. As a referee, his first professional game was
Gateshead Thunder v
Workington Town on 17 April 2006, before making his
Super League debut on 15 March 2009 with
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats v
Catalans Dragons. This came a week after he officiated the
Rugby League Varsity Match between
Oxford University and
Cambridge University at the
Twickenham Stoop. On 11 January 2010, he was promoted to the RFL's elite refereeing squad for 2010's
Super League XV. In December 2022, Child retired as a match official after more than 10 years. ==Personal life==