Jamie Bloem is a rugby league

Rugby league

Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...

 referee and former dual-code rugby player who played international rugby league

Rugby league

Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...

 for South Africa

South Africa national rugby league team

The South Africa national rugby league team are a growing force in rugby league football, South Africa competes sporadically against other international nations because of their location and their absence from any major international competitions. They are ranked twenty-third in the world...

 and Scotland

Scotland national rugby league team

The Scotland national rugby league team represent Scotland in international rugby league football tournaments. The team is run under the auspices of the Scotland Rugby League, and are nicknamed The Bravehearts. Scotland are not regarded as a test nation...

.

Rugby league

Bloem played his club football for the Cape Town Coasters in South Africa

Rugby league in South Africa

Rugby league is a team sport played in South Africa. There has been three dynasties of rugby league in South Africa that attempted to establish a thriving rugby league. Not all attempts were in the interest of South Africans; rather an interest in financial windfall...

 as well as the Castleford Tigers

Castleford Tigers

Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...

, Halifax

Halifax RLFC

Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...

 and the Huddersfield Giants

Huddersfield Giants

Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....

 in the European Super League

Super League

Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...

. He also played for Doncaster when they were in the top flight of rugby league in England. His position of choice was at , however he also played on the or in the .

Bloem also played in France and has toured extensively as a player.

Drugs ban

In November 1994, Bloem was the first rugby league player to test positive for performance enhancing anabolic steroid nandrolone. He was banned for two years.

Representative career

Bloem also appeared on numerous occasions for the South Africa national rugby league team

South Africa national rugby league team

The South Africa national rugby league team are a growing force in rugby league football, South Africa competes sporadically against other international nations because of their location and their absence from any major international competitions. They are ranked twenty-third in the world...

, including captaining them during the 2000 World Cup

2000 Rugby League World Cup

The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...

. He has played twice for the Scotland national rugby league team

Scotland national rugby league team

The Scotland national rugby league team represent Scotland in international rugby league football tournaments. The team is run under the auspices of the Scotland Rugby League, and are nicknamed The Bravehearts. Scotland are not regarded as a test nation...

, through his mothers nationality.

Rugby union

Bloem also had spells with rugby union sides; Thornensians, Halifax and Old Brodleians, whom he took to their first promotion in 75 years. He moved to Old Rishworthians as player/coach for the 2007-08 season. Bloem was top point scorer for Rishworthians in 2007-08, breaking the club record with 375 points in the season.

Later years

After his retirement Bloem became a rugby league referee and controlled the Nordic Cup match between Norway and Sweden.

Bloem is also a BBC radio rugby league sports summariser.

Jamie Bloem is now player coach at Stainland Stags ARLFC in Halifax who play in The Pennine League. 2010 - 2011 season