Veteran Referee Wayne Barnes to Officiate Rugby World Cup Final Between New Zealand and South Africa

Setting Test Record, Barnes Heads All-English Officiating Team for Saturday's Clash in Paris

Veteran referee Wayne Barnes, known as the most experienced referee in test history with 110 tests since 2006, has been appointed to officiate the Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and South Africa to be held in Paris.
Barnes has been a referee in five games at this World Cup, issuing six yellow cards, including two against New Zealand. This will be his fifth World Cup, more than any other referee.
Barnes is part of an all-English officiating team, a first in World Cup history. His assistant referees are compatriots Karl Dickson and Matthew Carley, and Tom Foley has been named as the Television Match Official.
The appointment of Barnes follows criticisms he received from South Africa's director of rugby Rassie Erasmus, which sparked online abuse and threats against Barnes and his family. Despite this, Barnes' ability to read and understand the game was commended by referees manager Joël Jutge.
Outside of his rugby officiating career, Barnes is a criminal barrister specializing in corruption and fraud. He believes his job and refereeing complement each other as both require earning the confidence of clients and players and explaining things in an understandable manner.