THE referee for Saturday’s Challenge Cup Final between Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors has been confirmed.

For the second season in a row, Chris Kendall has been appointed to take charge of the showpiece game at Wembley having also been the man in the middle when Leigh Leopards beat Hull KR in golden-point extra-time to lift the trophy last year.

Having been the video referee for the 2021 and 2022 finals, it will now be the fourth final in a row in which the Huddersfield whistler, who turned 32 on Monday, has been directly involved.

Kendall’s touch judges will be Richard Thompson and Johnny Roberts, with Liam Moore on duty as video referee.

Kendall has refereed The Wire on two occasions this year, both of which came on the same ground – the Stade Gilbert Brutus. He took charge of the 16-10 Round One defeat and the 16-8 victory in Round 12 last month.

Super League officials Aaron Moore and Tom Grant get their first Wembley appointments, with the former taking charge of the Women’s Challenge Cup Final between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos while the latter will referee Wakefield Trinity vs Sheffield Eagles in the 1895 Cup Final.

There is Warrington representation in the team of officials in the form of Esmai Wright, who won the Referee of the Year award at the Warrington Wolves Foundation Man of Steel awards last year.

She has been appointed as one of the in-goal judges for the Year Seven boys Champion Schools Final between St Peters Catholic High School of Orrell and Cardiff’s Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf.

“Congratulations to all the officials who have been appointed for the four Finals at Wembley this weekend,” RFL head of match officials Phil Bentham said.

“It’s an opportunity for us to recognise excellence at various levels, whether in our full-time squad or in developing match officials.”