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Wayne Barnes to break Aviva Premiership record this Friday
By Online Editors
Wayne Barnes will break the record for most Aviva Premiership Rugby matches refereed on Friday when he takes charge of Worcester Warriors' home clash with London Irish.
Barnes, 38, currently sits atop the all-time list alongside Chris White on 190 matches refereed in English rugby's top League, the latter having set the mark between 1997 and 2011.
But at Sixways on Friday Barnes will move out on his own and Premiership Rugby Rugby Director Phil Winstanley offered his and the League's thanks.
He said: "This weekend Wayne will receive many well-deserved plaudits from across the game and all of these are fully deserved."
"In the last 15 years Wayne has arguably become the number one referee in world rugby and we’re fortunate to have Wayne plying his trade in the Aviva Premiership each week."
"He has travelled the world for many years officiating Premiership, European and International rugby yet the quality and level of performance rarely waivers."
"He’s an extremely consistent performer and has been over many years, and he is held in high regard by players and coaches alike."
"Whilst he will may soon notch up 191 Premiership Rugby fixtures on Friday night, you can see on match days that he has lost none of retained his enthusiasm over the years and thoroughly enjoys what he does and I’m sure that there are many more appearances to come yet."
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It might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
Go to commentsYou forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time. For Rassie, a loss is never a loss because he uses it as a chance to learn and improve. Sometimes during a game, again like the England match in last year's Semi Final.
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