After officiating the Rugby World Cup final for five days, top official Wayne Barnes declared his retirement.
During South Africa’s 12-11 triumph in Paris, England’s Barnes sent New Zealand captain Sam Cane out with the first red card in a men’s World Cup final. It was one of the English official’s most difficult matches to date.
I have witnessed some of the greatest rugby matches in history over the last 20 years,” Barnes stated in a statement shared on social media. “I have worked with some of the best coaches the game has ever produced, and I have seen some of the top players in the world.
I had the honor of officiating the Rugby World Cup final between the All Blacks and the Springboks, two of the most recognizable teams in the history of the game, on Saturday. It’s often said that you will know when it’s time to retire, and for my family and me, this is unquestionably that time.
In particular, since online abuse and threats have become all too common for everyone involved in the game, I will keep fighting for referees and collaborating closely with the International Rugby Match Officials’ association to make sure match officials worldwide have a voice and access to the right supports for themselves and their families
Barnes, who also practices criminal law, started officiating at the age of 15. In 2001, at the age of 21, he was appointed as the youngest official to the Panel of National Referees.
Four years later, he became a professional match official and officiated 272 Gallagher Premiership matches, including 10 finals. After officiating his first international in 2006, he broke the record held by Welsh official Nigel Owens for the most Test matches; the World Cup final marked his 111th international overall.
Both on and off the field, Wayne has been an absolutely wonderful spokesperson for rugby, according to World Rugby Chair Bill Beaumont.
He has a distinguished career as a referee, but it’s his broader contributions to the game that have elevated refereeing to a particular status. He is a credit to the game, his country, and his family, and he will rightfully be regarded as one of the greats.
I would like to express my gratitude to Wayne on behalf of World Rugby and the international rugby community for his extraordinary devotion, enthusiasm, and love for the game, all of which have contributed to his selection as the winner of the Rugby World Cup 2023 final, the game’s highest honor.
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