2023-10-23 18:31:54
There will be an Englishman in the Rugby World Cup final, but it will be the referee. Wayne Barnes, 44, will lead the debates between New Zealanders and South Africans at the Stade de France on Saturday evening, as announced by World Rugby this Monday afternoon.
With some 110 test matches to his credit, at 44 years old he is the most capped referee in practice. Barnes, whose international debut dates back to a Fiji-Samoa match in Suva in June 2006, will be the second Englishman in history to officiate in a World Cup final after Ed Morrison, who officiated the New Zealand match – South Africa in 1995.
Among the referees appointed for a World Cup final, Barnes joins Kerry Fitzgerald (1987), Derek Bevan (1991), Andre Watson (1999 and 2003), Alain Rolland (2007), Craig Joubert (2011), Nigel Owens (2015 ) and the Frenchman Jérôme Garcès (2019), who has since joined the staff of the French team.
On Saturday evening, Barnes will alone hold the record for matches coached at the World Cup – 27 in five editions. During the current edition, the Englishman will have reached the total of six matches refereed, as many as during the 2019 World Cup, where he notably directed the final for 3rd place won by New Zealand against the country of Wales.
Australian Nic Berry on the whistle for the small final
On Saturday, Barnes will be assisted by his compatriots Karl Dickson and Matthew Carley, while Tom Foley will officiate on video. “On behalf of World Rugby, I would like to congratulate Wayne Barnes on being appointed referee for the 2023 Rugby World Cup final,” said Sir Bill Beaumont, Chairman of World Rugby. This designation is worthy of what he has shown not only during this competition but also throughout his storied career. »
World Rugby has also announced the referees to direct the “small” Argentina – England final, at the Stade de France. Nic Berry (Australia), former Racing-Métro player, will be the main referee, assisted by Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) and Andrew Brace (Ireland). Ben Whitehouse (Wales) will be the video referee.
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