England’s Wayne Barnes to blow the whistle in Boks-All Blacks final

As expected, the game’s most experienced Test referee will be handed the whistle for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final between South Africa and New Zealand.

World Rugby on Monday confirmed Wayne Barnes, who has refereed a record 110 Tests, will take charge of the final with compatriots Karl Dickson and Matthew Carley as assistant referees, while Tom Foley was named the television match official.

Barnes, who made his debut when Fiji played Samoa in Suva in June 2006, will become the second Englishman to officiate a RWC final after Ed Morrison, who was in charge when New Zealand and South Africa last met in the title decider in 1995.

The 44-year-old adds his name to an honour roll of RWC final referees that features Kerry Fitzgerald (Australia, 1987), Derek Bevan (Wales, 1991), Andre Watson (South Africa, 1999 and 2003), Alain Rolland (Ireland, 2007), Craig Joubert (South Africa, 2011), Nigel Owens (Wales, 2015) and Jérôme Garcès (France, 2019).

It will also be a record 27th RWC match as referee for Barnes in what is his fifth tournament. The final will be his sixth match in the middle during France 2023, equalling the record he set at RWC 2019 when he took charge of New Zealand’s defeat of Wales in the bronze final in Tokyo.

Barnes effectively became World Rugby’s go-to choice after England were eliminated by the Springboks on Saturday. Referees are not allowed to officiate matches their countrymen are playing in.

South Africa’s Jaco Peyper came into the tournament with the prospect of being involved in the last four matches but the calf injury he suffered in the match between Argentina and Wales scuppered his chances.

Australia’s Nic Berry will referee the so-called bronze medal final between Argentina and England on Friday. Berry of course drew sharp criticism from SA Rugby’s director of rugby Rassie Erasmus for the way he handled the opening Test between the Springboks and the British and Irish Lions in 2021. Berry will have Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) and Andrew Brace (Ireland) as assistant referees and Ben Whitehouse (Wales) as TMO.

“Such an appointment is a reflection of Wayne’s calibre, not just at this tournament but over a distinguished career,” said World Rugby chair Bill Beaumont.

“It is a result of his devotion to the game, the support of his family and the spirit of collaboration and excellence that exists across our entire match official team.”

Joël Jutge, World Rugby high-performance 15s match official manager, added: “Wayne’s ability to read and understand the game is second to none. He also embodies the passion, professionalism and dedication that is at the heart of a superb team of match officials at this Rugby World Cup.”