New Zealand Rugby have congratulated Wayne Barnes on an ‘immense’ career after he announced his retirement from refereeing.
Barnes’ final match was last Saturday as he took charge of the Rugby World Cup final involving the All Blacks.
Ian Foster’s men would go down to the Springboks 12-11 in a clash which featured three yellow cards and one red – to New Zealand captain Sam Cane.
Fallout from the final
Barnes received death threats in the wake of the World Cup showpiece event, while the All Blacks have sent their grievances over his performance to World Rugby.
The officials did a good job in trying circumstances as the Englishman confirmed his status as one of the game’s great referees.
He officiated in five World Cups and has been in charge for numerous European and Premiership finals, and NZRU recognised what Barnes has given to the sport.
“Congratulations to Wayne Barnes, who has called time on his refereeing career. With a record-breaking 111 Test matches in the middle, Wayne’s contribution to the world game has been immense,” they wrote on X, formerly known on Twitter.
“We wish him and his family all the best for the future,” before adding the hashtag: “#RespectTheRef.”
Putting a fan in their place
The reaction to the message was mixed from New Zealand supporters but the account put one person in their place after they wrote a vile message in response to the tweet.
It read: “He’s a sniveling coward,” but the NZRU were quick to reply, putting: “Hi Toby, Wayne has had an incredible career and we support and respect all match officials in our game.”
Rugby’s governing bodies could perhaps be following that lead as abuse of referees becomes more commonplace in the game.
Barnes himself is going to dedicate some of his time to help tackle ‘online threats’ which are sent to match officials following games.
“I will continue to advocate for referees and work closely with the International Rugby Match Officials association to ensure match officials across the globe not only have a collective voice but also the appropriate support network for them and their families, particularly as online abuse and threats have become far too regular for all of those involved in the game,” he wrote in his retirement statement.
READ MORE: ‘Best referee rugby has ever had’ – Tributes pour in as Wayne Barnes retires
Sophie Anderson, a UK-based writer, is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
