Red mist: Rugby’s leaders would do well to heed wise words of Wayne Barnes

Retired referee says ‘game needs to have discussion’ about protocols regarding the all-too regular handing out of red cards

Wayne Barnes, who announced his retirement five days after refereeing the Rugby World Cup final.

Opinion will always be divided, but a general consensus seems to have it that Wayne Barnes has been the best referee of our times. Now that he has retired, it seems he is feeling freer to speak his mind. The game would do well to pay attention.

He appeared on TNT’s highlights programme for round one of the Champions Cup this month and offered his thoughts on the cards that he and his colleagues have been obliged to bandy about for so many years now.