Wayne Barnes, the appointed referee for the upcoming World Cup final, once contemplated retirement following his last officiation of a match involving the Springboks.
During the 2022 end-of-year tour, France secured a thrilling 30-26 victory over the Springboks, leading to significant post-match discussions. Referee Wayne Barnes received widespread criticism, particularly for several controversial decisions that went against South Africa in the closing stages of the game.
One pivotal moment came when Barnes awarded a crucial try to France, despite video replays indicating a potential double movement in the lead-up late in the game. In the final 10 minutes, France received several favorable decisions, including one where a pass by Willie le Roux was ruled to have gone forward marginally.
Shortly after the game, Rassie Erasmus posted a seemingly sarcastic message on Twitter (now known as X), which included a part that read: “We just have to fix these fundamental errors like tackle technique and simple passing. Sorry!” Erasmus’ tweet, from his social media handle @RassieRugby, also included a video showing Cheslin Kolbe being subjected to a dangerous forearm to the face early in the match.
Erasmus continued to share tweets critical of officials regarding the game, which ultimately resulted in him being banned for the final two matches of the end-of-year tour.
This background is important to consider as The Telegraph, a reputable overseas publication, reported that Wayne Barnes is set to referee the Rugby World Cup final between the Springboks and All Blacks this Saturday.
After the Springboks-France Test last year, where Barnes last officiated a match involving South Africa, he and his family endured severe online abuse and backlash. Barnes later revealed the extent of the turmoil, admitting that he had contemplated retirement at one point, especially after his wife and children became targets of threats and abuse.
In an interview on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast, Barnes shared details of the shocking abuse directed at him and his family. He expressed how criticism on social media often escalates into abuse and noted that while he chose to be a referee and be on social media, his wife, Polly, did not make that decision.
The abuse extended to threats of sexual violence and harm to his children, taking the situation to a distressing level. Barnes emphasized that while he can handle criticism and direct abuse, the threats against his family were deeply unsettling and distressing.
When asked whether tweets from Rassie Erasmus might have contributed to the escalation of abuse, Barnes couldn’t provide a definitive answer but suggested that such behavior from individuals in positions of authority could potentially inspire others to target officials on social media.
Barnes also acknowledged that he had considered leaving refereeing in the aftermath of the controversy, revealing the ongoing conversation within his family about the sacrifices made in his role as a referee and the alternatives he might explore, including returning full-time to his position as a partner at a law firm.
