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The Wayne Barnes tweet that hasn't aged well
By Liam Heagney
Referee Wayne Barnes commendably hasn’t shied away from using social media despite the massive amount of abuse received in November after he took charge of the France versus South Africa match in Marseille. That Autumn Nations Series game was the occasion when he became the world’s most capped Test referee, his 101st appointment moving him ahead of Nigel Owens.
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The fallout from that game which featured two red cards turned nasty on social media, resulting in the RFU shelving plans for an on-pitch half-time presentation of a referee memento to Barnes at Twickenham a fortnight later for fear that it would be marred by booing at the England-South Africa game.
It was a few weeks after in December when the 43-year-old detailed a harrowing account on The Good, the Bad & the Rugby podcast of the direct abuse aimed at his wife Polly and the threats made to their family.
“Criticism on social media quickly becomes abuse,” said referee Barnes at the time. “That’s the world we live in. That’s social media. But I make the decision to be a referee, make the decision to be on social media. Polly, my wife, doesn’t make the decision to be a referee.
“On the Saturday night, there started to be some direct abuse at Polly. And then, the following two or three days, there was direct abuse to Polly. Threats of sexual violence and threats against the kids. To Polly and to me, direct threats about our kids. That takes it to a different level.
How does a referee decide on the degree of danger when using the head contact process in rugby union?
The turtles explain all.
Hope this helps with this weekend of @SixNationsRugby. #ThrowTheBookhttps://t.co/ujpO0eAK4f
— Wayne Barnes (@WayneBarnesRef) February 10, 2023
“When you have done 100 games, you have got a lot of experience and think you can prepare for most things. You can’t prepare for that. When I said it’s been a s***** couple of weeks, it’s been a s***** couple of weeks. It wasn’t even a line that was crossed – you have gone so far beyond it you can’t even see the line.”
Having since pulled back from contemplating quitting as a referee, law firm partner Barnes was rostered last Saturday to referee his 26th Six Nations match. Ahead of that Ireland versus France clash, he tweeted a 70-second video about the application of the head contact process in rugby.
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“How does a referee decide on the degree of danger when using the head contact process in rugby union? The turtles explain all. Hope this helps with this weekend of Six Nations rugby. #ThrowTheBook.”
That tweet went on to have nearly 100,000 views after Barnes was caught up in a major talking, his 26th-minute decision to only yellow card French prop Uini Atonio for his juddering collision with Rob Herring. Before it was confirmed on Monday that Atonio was being cited and will appear at a disciplinary hearing this Wednesday, Barnes’ tweet attracted numerous responses. Below is a selection of the debate it ignited:
“This didn’t age too well Wayne.”
“Thanks, Wayne. If a player leaves the field with a brain injury following an upright no-wrap ‘tackle’, what degree of danger are they likely to have been subject to would you say? Just wondering.”
“Red all day long! Shocking decision Wayne.”
“I believe you are one of the best refs in the game, and without refs, there is no game, so maybe commenters might ease up? That all said, having reviewed the incident post-game, would you say you’re happy with yellow? Do you expect the citing commissioners to cite Antonio?”
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“Tweet not aging spectacularly well after this game but still think Barnes is a fantastic ref.”
“This is a timely video, Wayne, thanks for sharing. Would love to see an updated video using the turtles as an analogy for the decision in the Ireland and France game.”
“The assistant ref’s facial expression speaks volumes.”
“The yellow card decision was completely wrong. It was the textbook definition of a red card. I think an apology and acknowledgment of the mistake are in order. Did the TMO agree with this decision?”
“Bad, bad call, if you want to look after players you can not let tackles like that go without a straight red card I’m afraid. All you can do now is learn from your mistakes.”
“Good referee you are. But you must admit the call was wrong.”
“Absolute state of the one-eyed responses to this. Well reffed, Wayne.”
“Wayne, you should probably stay off social media for a bit and take a long hard look at yourself. You had replay after replay and still came up with the wrong card! I think you’re a good ref btw but come on, you need to make these difficult calls to protect players from injury!”
“Ya may go back to playing with the turtles. You got it wrong. Definitely red. What does Leonardo or Donatello think?”
“I respect you as a ref, but today’s decision was shocking. His jaw nearly came out the other side of his mouth, and your view was a low degree of danger. And then to not immediately demand a HIA. The first job of a ref is protect the player, not keep it entertaining for TV.”
“Very little force going into the chest? Red all day. Thanks for the Lowe try, though.”
“Was high all day with no intention to reduce his body height and there was loads of force. What was frightening was the failure of the officials to demand a HIA for a clearly dazed player, but demanding one would have questioned the validity of their card decision.”
“You will need to be very creative to justify your yellow card v red card. It would be very refreshing.”
Andrew Porter broke Retallick's cheekbone with an upright tackle that was described by Barnes as "absorbing"; where were the same whingeing Irish idiots after that decision that was subsequently cleared by the judiciary. Luck of the Irish I guess.
"Head contact" joins "forward pass" on the list of issues Mr. Barnes struggles with.
Ahh the Irish.... Forever victims
When parents look at that decision they will not allow their kids play rugby. I never appreciated Mr Barns arrogance on the pitch. I'm sure he is a nice man, but he will never be Nigel. If we were all as negligent in our work we would be sacked. I hope Rob makes a full recover.
Jeez the comment saying the condemnation of Barnes is one eyed is ridiculous. If an Irish player had done that, then gotten away with only a yellow card, I would still say it was a very bad decision. I suspect many other fair minded people would say the same. I wonder did Barnes watch that documentary that the England World Cup winner made about the effects of concussion on his health. It seems what was at the forefront of Barnes' mind was not to ruin the game as a contest, rather than player safety.
Classic example of 'solution looking for a problem' approach. Wayne's starting point was 'I am not giving a red card no matter what I see'...then started to build a scenario that delivered that solution. Mebbe forgot that he was not in the courtroom where sophistry abounds. He lessened his reputation significantly in the eyes of all fairminded people. Admit it Wayne and be a better man for doing so!