Wayne Barnes

Paperback out now, with a big new Rugby World Cup chapter added. Complete with my personal account of the final, honest thoughts on how we were managed, and details of my secret emergency heart operation.

My take on the ending of the second @lionsofficial test and why I think the refs got it right 👇

I reckon this might be useful for anyone watching the @lionsofficial game: passport.world.rugby/laws-of-the-ga…‘

My guide to the Lions test officials ahead of this weekend. Three good friends, and three top class refs.

To give the Lions refs the best chance of success, they need to be allowed to work together regularly. My thoughts on one of the match officials’ biggest challenges ahead of the tests in today’s @TelegraphRugby

My old refereeing friend @davidaplews has been given 2-3 yrs to live. He might get longer with access to a new trial drug, except it’s not available in his area. Please help me to help him by adding your name to this petition to make it available 🙏 petition.parliament.uk/petitions/7295…

A famously brutal match; and much easier to analyse from my retiree’s armchair!

The opening @SixNationsRugby weekend was relatively controversy-free. So let’s try and just enjoy the rugby instead of searching for debatable infringements (while we can).

@Teamgrassroots_ This is so sad to hear. If your son fancies trying out rugby refereeing let me know - I’m more than happy to help him. We need more young people coming through and they should be treated with the respect they deserve.

A summary of my son's first game refereeing a game this morning. For reference my son is 15, it was an U9 game and my son has no connection to either clubs. He's been called a "a blatant cheat" "blind" "stupid" "doesn't know what he's doing" In addition he's been spoken to in a manner I can only describe as aggressive and Intimidating for things like giving a throw, allowing a player to re take a foul throw, not giving a penalty when a child tripped on the ball and was not fouled. My son left the pitch today and said this to me in the car, I'm never doing that again, kids were great, adults were absolutely disgusting. No wonder we struggle for refs.

3/3

This week there was a Daily Telegraph article entitled “Wayne Barnes deepens RFU crisis” after I wrote a personal letter to all English referees & someone sent it to the press. I hadn’t intended to share it, but as important details weren’t included, I have decided to do so. 1/3

How good was the atmosphere at Twickenham during the Autumn Nations Series? Here I explain why the new laws played their part.

Whether you see it as bending the rules or simply using their box of tricks to gain sporting advantage, you can be sure the @Springboks will entertain us all at the Allianz against @EnglandRugby on Saturday.

Great company at @EnglandRugby v @wallabies on the weekend. And @MartinBayfield is definitely following me..

There’s never a consensus on refereeing decisions in rugby. This is why I welcome the news that officials can now reduce their consequences with the new 20 minute red card trial. My full thoughts in today’s @TelegraphRugby

Not a conventional Rugby World Cup for me, this one. But memorable for a variety of reasons!

Popped for a beer and look who I ran into!