Wayne Barnes is widely recognised as the world’s best rugby referee. He has refereed over 90 test matches and has refereed more Rugby World Cup matches than any other official; including three quarter finals, a semi-final and a two bronze finals.
Since his international debut in 2006, Wayne has refereed two European Champions Cup finals, eight Premiership finals, he was the first Englishman to referee the British and Irish Lions and in 2018 refereed the historic match between Ireland and New Zealand in Dublin.
He is a regular guest on BT’s weekly rugby magazine programme, Rugby Tonight, giving viewers a unique insight into the game through the eyes of one of the World’s most respected match officials. He is also a regular pundit on Channel 5’s live coverage of the Premiership alongside presenters David Flatman and Mark Durden-Smith.
Away from rugby, Wayne is a director and barrister at Fulcrum Chambers, a law firm specialising in bribery and corruption. It is therefore no surprise that he is a well-established and extremely popular MC / host, key note speaker and after dinner speaker. His popularity was highlighted in 2016, when he was awarded MBN Rugby Speaker of the Year. Wayne is originally from the Forest of dean in Gloucestershire, currently lives in Twickenham and is married to Polly and has two children.
Wayne is actively involved with several charities. He is a patron of the Atrial Fibrillation Foundation, a regular supporter and fund raiser for the rugby charity Wooden Spoon and along with his wife, he organises an annual charity match in his home town of Lydney, supporting Breast Cancer Now.
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