Wales v New Zealand
Principality Stadium, Cardiff: Saturday, 5 November, 2022
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)
Barnes, who made his debut in Fiji in June 2006, will become only the second referee to reach a century of tests behind friend Nigel Owens when he takes charge of Wales v New Zealand at the Principality Stadium on 5 November.
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont led the tributes to Barnes: “Congratulations to Wayne on his selection and pending record. To be so good for so long as a referee is no easy feat. Wayne Barnes, like Nigel Owens before him, reaches 100 tests by being not just a fantastic referee, but a great team player, a student of the game and someone who is greatly respected by players, coaches and fans alike.”
Wayne Barnes facts:
- When not on the pitch or working with the England team, Barnes is a practising barrister
- Barnes started playing rugby at the age of eight, and took up refereeing aged 15 with Gloucester & District Referees
- He also has two young children, Juno and Beau with wife Polly.
Wayne Barnes toughest player to referee Richie McCaw
BARNES SAID: “Richie always had the knack of asking the right question at the right time, sometimes it felt like I was losing a little bit of control. Contrary to popular belief, he didn’t talk a lot on the field. He knew the law book inside out and so when he asked a question, he often had a point.”
France v Australia
Stade de France, Paris: Saturday, 5 November, 2022
- Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU)
- Assistant Referee 1: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
- Assistant Referee 2: Craig Evans (WRU)
- TMO: Tom Foley (RFU)
Generally a safe pair of hands, the South African is an experienced referee who seems to have a good rapport with players. He also likes to keep the game flowing, something that fans do appreciate.
He was chosen to officiate in both the 2015 and the 2019 Rugby World Cups.
Outside of rugby, he is a trained lawyer and he and his wife Zenobia have two children together.