[Lord Elpus]

...........too many death threats and hate mail after the RWC final.

Best referee forced out of the game by morons.

[dinogyro]

Crikey, I am shocked to hear that.

It's a real shame, but I can understand it. In the summer, a group of us decided to stand as parish councillors as we didn't feel the incumbents were doing enough for the village. We distributed our campaign leaflet and then the hate started online. This is for an unpaid volunteer position!

I just don't know what happens to people. It's really time for everyone to have some sort of online ID that can be anonymous, but also tracked to a real person if they incite hatred or make threats.

[Lord Elpus]

The abuse seemed to be from NZ fans who blames him for Cane's red when of course it was a bunker decision. Fwiw I think this will benefit the AB's most as he did ref. them.

[Flumpty]

The abuse seemed to be from NZ fans who blames him for Cane's red when of course it was a bunker decision. Fwiw I think this will benefit the AB's most as he did ref. them.

Whereas I blame Cane for planting his shoulder into another players face

[Flumpty]

well, he's gone out at the very top of his profession.

A shame that I won't be able to listen to him managing hostilities at SCS anymore.


I hope that he's able to carry on contributing to the game in some capacity.

[eBike]

Sad, very sad.

Let's all hope his skills and experience are put to good use with the next generation of refs.

Sadly there are far too many malignant keyboard inadequates out there. Without refs (at ALL levels) we have no rugby.

Chapeau Mr Barnes

[ledzepsfr]

...........too many death threats and hate mail after the RWC final.

Best referee forced out of the game by morons.

I think I remember him saying on a podcast that he was going to retire after RWC2023 to concentrate on his work as a barrister (he is a partner in the law firm)

[Beardedshark]

I do hope you are right ledzep. If he’s felt the need to retire due to the abuse it would be a tragic loss to the game. Has been the best ref for years. Hope his retirement goes well and he can still contribute to the game. It would be very interesting to hear him commentating on the tv.

[Olyy]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure this was always the plan - I've not seen anything to suggest otherwise. He's announced his autobiography today, too, so bit of a coincidence if not


Retired as the best ref in the business and refereeing the biggest game in the sport - who could ask for more?
Enjoy retirement Barnesy - I saw that he's going to stay a part of the refereeing union (can't remember it's name) hopefully he's also involved in bringing through the next gen of referees

[RinTin]

...........too many death threats and hate mail after the RWC final.

Best referee forced out of the game by morons.

He was always planning on retiring though? Quite misleading to say it was because of the idiotic fans post wc final.

[Streatham Shark]

I was going to say, he'd always planned to go after the world cup. He can now look forward to a long career drumming up the client base for his chambers without having to do too much actual work. Well deserved.

I was lucky enough to get into the World Rugby hospitality after Sarries thumped Leinster at St James' Park and he and the other officials from the final the night before were there drinking up a storm, despite having only got back to their digs at seven in the morning.

He's a really nice bloke. The story about the London French game after the Bataclan atrocities will go down in the annals.

[Flumpty]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure this was always the plan - I've not seen anything to suggest otherwise. He's announced his autobiography today, too, so bit of a coincidence if not

Happy Days - I had an audible credit to use and this book fits the bill very nicely.

[JohnJ of HM]

Best referee in the Premiership for the last 20 years and for much of it, the world. As someone who refereed twice as long, I could only aspire to that level and never come remotely close. I'm sure the RFRU and World Rugby won't be slow to use his expertise. Autobiography is on my Christmas list.

[Flumpty]

As someone who refereed twice as long, I could only aspire to that level and never come remotely close.

A hat tip to you for reffing that long. Sadly for me, a combination of falling out of love with reffing and dodgy knees stoped me from waving my arms around and blowing a whistle)

[eBike]

Telegraph reports that Mrs Barnes posted critical comments about the reaction from "fans" at the end of the final. Whatever the reasons for his retirement he'll be missed. Family comes first.

[SimonG]

...........too many death threats and hate mail after the RWC final.

Best referee forced out of the game by morons.

He was always planning on retiring though? Quite misleading to say it was because of the idiotic fans post wc final.

Indeed and rather an insult to Mr Barnes too.

[Lord Elpus]

...........too many death threats and hate mail after the RWC final.

Best referee forced out of the game by morons.

He was always planning on retiring though? Quite misleading to say it was because of the idiotic fans post wc final.

Indeed and rather an insult to Mr Barnes too.

No it isn't according to WB and I'll take his word every time over yours.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67349016

[Olyy]

Barnes says it was a moment that could have fast-tracked his retirement as the abuse became more intense following criticism from South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus.

"Without doubt, it was a moment where you think 'why do we do this?'" he said.

"But then you sit down and talk about it and realise there is only 10 months to go [until the World Cup] and you don't want the keyboard warriors to win."

He says in the article it didn't cause him to retire

[Lord Elpus]

In his autobiography Throwing the Book, Barnes describes the abuse he has received in the past, which led him to consider quitting as a referee on several occasions.

The Englishman was also subjected to abuse after sending off France captain Antoine Dupont and South Africa flanker Steph du Toit in the Springboks' defeat in Marseille last year.

Barnes says it was a moment that could have fast-tracked his retirement as the abuse became more intense following criticism from South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus.

Nowhere in the piece does he attribute his retirement to publishing his book. It's all about the abuse he and other officials receive on social media.

[DavenportSharky]

The biggest mistake Barnes made in his career was NOT red carding someone.
A certain M Tuilagi (and also yellowing Chris Ashton in that same incident).

[SimonG]

He was always planning on retiring though? Quite misleading to say it was because of the idiotic fans post wc final.

Indeed and rather an insult to Mr Barnes too.

No it isn't according to WB and I'll take his word every time over yours.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67349016

I suggest you get someone to read that piece to you if you can't understand it.