Retired referee Wayne Barnes calls out Johnny Sexton's behaviour

Despite not officiating in last season's Champions Cup final, where Johnny Sexton exchanged heated words with referee Jaco Peyper and his team after the match, Barnes has expressed strong views on the incident in his autobiography titled 'Throwing the Book'.

He began: "Further evidence that the authorities don't have referees' backs, and seem to be making stuff up as they go along, was the incident between Johnny Sexton and Jaco Peyper after the 2023 Champions Cup final, which La Rochelle won against Leinster.

"Leinster's Sexton, who didn't play because he was injured, walked on to the pitch and abused Jaco and his touch judges, Karl Dickson and Christophe Ridley. You could clearly see him letting rip as Jaco was on the podium receiving his medal, and you didn't need to be a lip reader to know that was he was saying wasn't very pleasant, to put it mildly."

"So when asked, Jaco and his team said they didn't hear anything," Barnes continued.

"European Rugby didn't believe them, but Jaco and his team weren't prepared to put their names to any statements because they weren't confident that European Rugby would protect them.

"European Rugby promised them their names wouldn't be mentioned and said it would write a statement on their behalf (you'd be ripped apart in the criminal justice system for doing that), but when the time came to prosecute Sexton, their names and quotes were all over the transcripts of the judgement. (For the record, Sexton got a three-match ban, making him available for Ireland's opening World Cup game.) As you can imagine, Jaco and his team felt let down, and I don't blame them."

England's rugby players are making waves across the international rankings, demonstrating their diverse talents across the field. Despite the absence of Maro Itoje, several English stars have earned their places.

Alex Mitchell, a skilled scrumhalf, ranks 96th, showcasing his tactical acumen. George Furbank, versatile in multiple backline roles, follows closely at 93rd. Marcus Smith, a dynamic flyhalf, impresses at 82nd, while Immanuel Feyi-Waboso brings speed and skill at 81st.

In the forwards, Jamie George, known for his set-piece prowess, stands at 68th. Jack Willis, a formidable backrower with a knack for turnovers, holds the 49th spot, and Ben Earl, another versatile backrower, ranks 15th, highlighting England's depth and strength across different positions.

100. Uini Antonio – France – Prop

99. Dewi Lake – Wales - Hooker

98. UJ Seuteni – Samoa - Centre

97. Tom Wright – Australia – Fullback

96. Alex Mitchell – England – Scrumhalf

95. Jac Morgan – Wales – Backrow

94. Fletcher Newell - New Zealand

93. George Furbank – England – Utility Back

92. Duhan van der Merwe – Scotland - Winger

91. Zander Fagerson – Scotland - Prop

90. Louis Bielle-Biarrey – France - Winger

89. Julian Marchand – France - Hooker

88. Jack Conan – Ireland – Backrow

87. Michelle Lamaro – Italy – Backrow

86. Ronan Kelleher – Ireland - Hooker

85. Manie Libbok – South Africa – Flyhalf

84. Steven Kitshoff - South Africa - Prop

83. Rory Darge – Scotland – Backrow

82. Marcus Smith – England – Flyhalf

81. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso - England - Winger

80. Tommy Reffell – Wales – Backrow

79. Ben Tameifuna – Tonga - Prop

78. Charles Ollivon – France - Backrow

77. Paolo Garbisi – Italy – Flyhalf

76. Sevu Reece – New Zealand - Winger

75. Ethan de Groot – New Zealand - Prop

74. Faf de Klerk – South Africa – Scrumhalf

73. Henry Slade – England - Centre

72. Taniela Tupou – Australia - Prop

71. Ollie Lawrence – England - Centre

70. Canan Moodie – South Africa – Utility Back

69. Reiko Ioane – New Zealand – Centre

68. Jamie George – England – Hooker

67. Gael Fickou – France - Centre

66. James Ryan – Ireland - Secondrow

65. Sione Tuipulotu – Scotland - Centre

64. Jack Crowley – Ireland - Flyhalf

63. Tommy Freeman – England – Utility Back

62. Mack Hansen – Ireland – Utility Back

61. Pita Ahki - Tonga - Forward

60. Kwagga Smith – South Africa – Utility Player

59. George Martin – England – Utility Forward

58. Marcos Kremer – Argentina – Backrow

57. Willie Le Roux – South Africa – Fullback

56. Joe McCarthy – Ireland – Secondrow

55. Waisea Nayacalevu – Fiji – Centre

54. Peato Mauvaka – France - Hooker

53. Mark Telea – New Zealand - Winger

52. Gregory Alldritt – France – Backrow

51. Sam Underhill – England – Backrow

50. Ange Capuozzo – Italy – Utility Back

49. Jack Willis – England – Backrow

48. Lukhayno Am – South Africa - Hooker

47. Julian Montoya – Argentina - Hooker

46. Peter O’Mahony – Ireland – Backrow

45. Damian De Allende – South Africa - Centre

44. Damian McKenzie – New Zealand – Utility Back

43. Robbie Henshaw – Ireland – Centre

42. Tom Curry – England – Backrow

41. Andrew Porter – Ireland - Prop

40. Semi Radradra – Fiji – Utility Back

39. Siya Kolisi – South Africa – Backrow

38. Garry Ringrose – Ireland – Centre

37. Levani Botia – Fiji – Utility Player

36. Kurt Lee Arendse – South Africa – Winger

35. Tommasso Menoncello – Italy – Utility Back

34. Malcolm Marx – South Africa – Hooker

33. James Lowe – Ireland - Winger

32. Owen Farrell – England – Flyhalf

31. Blair Kinghorn – Scotland – Utility Back

30. Angus Bell – Australia – Prop

29. Cyrill Baille – France - Prop

28. Courtney Lawes – England – Utility Forward

27. Thomas Ramos – France – Fullback

26. Tadhg Furlong – Ireland – Prop

25. Scott Barrett – New Zealand – Secondrow

24. RG Snyman – South Africa – Secondrow

23. Josh van der Flier – Ireland – Backrow

22. Richie Mo’unga – New Zealand – Flyhalf

21. Romain Ntamack – France – Flyhalf

20. Ox Nche – South Africa - Prop

19. Jordie Barrett – New Zealand – Centre

18. Bundee Aki – Ireland – Centre

17. Finn Russell – Scotland – Flyhalf

16. Will Skelton – Australia – Secondrow

15. Ben Earl – England – Backrow

14. Jamison Gibson-Park – Ireland – Scrumhalf

13. Damian Willemse – South Africa – Utility Back

12. Tadhg Beirne – Ireland – Utility Forward

11. Handre Pollard – South Africa - Flyhalf

10. Hugo Keenan – Ireland – Fullback

9. Cheslin Kolbe – South Africa - Winger

8. Will Jordan – New Zealand – Utility Back

7. Damian Penaud – France - Winger

6. Dan Sheehan – Ireland - Hooker

5. Eben Etzebeth – South Africa – Secondrow

4. Caelen Doris – Ireland - Backrow

3. Pieter-Steph Du Toit – South Africa - Backrow

2. Ardie Savea – New Zealand – Backrow

1. Antoine Dupont – France - Scrumhalf