Wayne Barnes
England
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Full name Wayne Barnes
Born April 20, 1979, Gloucester
Current age 44 years 334 days
Other Referee
Profile

English referee Wayne Barnes became a professional referee in 2005 giving up a career in law to do so.

He was, when appointed, the youngest referee to ever be selected for the Panel of National Referees in 2001 aged just 21. He then went on to referee at the 2003 Under-19 World Cup in France and the 2005 Under-21 Rugby World Cup in Argentina.

He went fully professional in April 2005 and made his Test debut in 2006 as he oversaw three matches in the Pacific Five Nations tournament.

In April 2007, he was selected to officiate in the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. His tournament though came to a contentious finish as New Zealand were knocked out of the tournament by hosts France at the quarter-final stage. Barnes sent Luke McAlister to the sin-bin and missed a forward pass in the lead-up to France's match-winning try as the All Blacks lost 20-18 after which Barnes received death threats. However, there were few complaints with his performance when the All Blacks subsequently beat Scotland in Edinburgh a year later.

He also became the first English official ever to take charge of a match at Croke Park in Dublin as he oversaw Wales against Ireland in the 2008 Six Nations Championship, won 16-12 by the Welsh.

The Englishman also took charge of the British & Irish Lions tour clash with the Cheetahs in 2009 and his first tri-Nations clash later the same year when he was the man in them middle for Austraila's clash with South Africa in Brisbane. He also served as an assistant for New Zealand's match with South Africa in Hamilton and Australia in Wellington. Later he was handed the Air New Zealand Cup fixture between Wellington in Southland and his performances were praised by the country's leading officials.

Latest Articles
Penalty fair enough say beaten All Blacks (Oct 5, 2014) Gatland criticises referee after Test defeat (Dec 1, 2013) McCaw slams RWC'07 Barnes appointment (Oct 9, 2012) Wayne Barnes returns to elite referee mix (Jul 6, 2012) Owens to referee Heineken Cup final (May 8, 2012) Wayne Barnes news and articles (24) »
Latest Photos
Mar 29, 2014
Wayne Barnes talks to Dylan Hartley and Ed Slater
Wayne Barnes talks to Dylan Hartley and Ed Slater
©  Getty Images
Mar 29, 2014
Wayne Barnes awards a penalty
Wayne Barnes awards a penalty
©  Getty Images
Jun 8, 2013
Referee Wayne Barnes gives a scrum penalty
Referee Wayne Barnes gives a scrum penalty
©  Getty Images
May 25, 2013
Northampton's Dylan Hartley cools his heels after being sent off
Northampton's Dylan Hartley cools his heels after being sent off
©  Getty Images
Wayne Barnes rugby photos (13) »

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