Leading official Wayne Barnes has announced his retirement five days after refereeing the Rugby World Cup final. The English official’s last match was one of his most challenging, with Barnes showing the first red card in a men’s World Cup final to New Zealand captain Sam Cane during South Africa‘s 12-11 victory in Paris.
Barnes was later reportedly the subject of death threats, and the 44-year-old said he would be working to ensure referees receive adequate support amid such pressures, but cited family reasons for his decision.
“Over the past 2src years, I have been in the middle of some of the greatest rugby matches in history,” Barnes wrote in a statement posted on social media. “I have seen some of the world’s best players and worked with some of the finest coaches the game has ever produced.
“Last Saturday, I was privileged to referee the Rugby World Cup final between two of the most iconic teams in the sport; the All Blacks and the Springboks. People often say you will know when it is the right time to retire, and this is clearly the right time for me and for my family.
“I will continue to advocate for referees and work closely with the International Rugby Match Officials’ association to en
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