Rugby referee's reveal the worst rugby players to officiate

BARNES SAID: " “He was always a funny one on the field in nice way. You’d be trying to tell him something serious and he’d just want to have a laugh and a joke.

"But he does bring a smile to your face. That is what is unique about our sport, the interaction between players and refs and refs and coaches. It does show our sport off in a good light.”

 During his international career he toured with the British & Irish Lions three times and was part of England's 2003 Rugby World Cup winning side. He won 77 caps for his country in total.

BARNES SAID: "Scrum-halves are always the worst, especially Matt."

The lock will always be remembered as the man presented with the 2003 World Cup, which England won in Sydney. As well as being an inspirational leader, the Leicester lock was also a formidable player in his own right. A rock like presence in the tight, whose rugby motto was if in doubt, go forward.

BARNES SAID: “I was always petrified of Martin Johnson because he was coming to the end of his career when I started in the Premiership." said Barnes.

“2003 was my first [season] and obviously that was towards the end of his career and I remember I had to sin-bin him once and I actually apologised as I did it.

“I said ‘I’m very sorry I have to do this’ because he’s such a big personality. I guess he was always someone who scared me witless!”

DID YOU KNOW? he comes from a sporting family. His great-grandfather was a wrestler

BARNES SAID: "He always made me smile as he made me look athletic when we were on the same pitch. However, the humorous players always keep you on your toes and if they get opportunity to pick you up on a slight faux pas, they will.

"I once mentioned to Andy Goode that him and his team mates were all appealing for far too many decisions and told him that it sounded like there were 15 referees on the pitch. “And you’re not even in the top 10” was his reply."

DID YOU KNOW? Goode had an 18-year professional career playing over 400 games and scoring over 4,000 points

Lifting the 2011 World Cup in his backyard was a fitting tribute to one of the greatest ever All Blacks, but he went on to secure true legendary status as he continued for four more years, breaking record after record and uniquely hoisting the Webb Ellis trophy for a second time.

BARNES SAID: "I’ve been on the field with some of the great captains, John Smit, Sam Warburton and Richie McCaw," said Barnes.

"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."

DID YOU KNOW? His other sporting passion is flying and he was made an honorary Squadron Leader in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 2010

Brace said: " I think one of the toughest players I’ve refereed would be Marcel Coetzee. He’s such a physical player who never takes a backward step."

Carley said: "A difficult question. When I first started refereeing in the Premiership Steve Borthwick was one of the guys who was pretty intimidating. He saw that everything was on ‘his terms, whether you like it or not’. He had such presence. I think you learn how to deal with people like that as a ref, but Steve Borthwick, was as tough as they come."

“Definitely! ROG and (Peter) Stringer, oh, when you had to referee the two of them together. I always got on well with the both of them though. I have a huge amount of respect for them, but they made my days hard on occasions. They were lippy in a respectful way.”

“The Ospreys scrum-half has actually started refereeing now, but he’d always be in my ear all game when he was a player. He certainly thought he knew the laws then.”

“Oh god yes. He’s so focused and so passionate about what he’s doing, we’ve had a few run ins on the pitch down the years. I mean, it’s always been in a respectful way as we always have a drink and a laugh after the game.

“Definitely Austin Healey. I only caught him towards the end of his career, thankfully. A wonderfully talented player and a very good pundit now, but he always had plenty say and quickly assumed I didn’t like him. He’s actually blocked me on Twitter, but I don’t think I’m the only one.”