Red tape sees Wayne Barnes miss out on the Premiership restart
The Gallagher Premiership returns this weekend after a record near-23 week layoff in between games. However, one familiar face who will be absent is Wayne Barnes, the referee of the classic 2019 tournament final between Saracens and Exeter.
While the likes of Luke Pearce, Christophe Ridley, Tom Foley, Craig Maxwell-Keys, Matthew Carley and Karl Dickson have all made the cut to referee in round 14 of the Premiership, Barnes has been excluded after getting caught out by the UK government’s fluid situation regarding overseas travel protocols.
When Barnes headed away on holiday to Majorca a few weeks ago, there were no restrictions surrounding the return of British holidaymakers from Spain.
However, travel rules were changed the day after the official flew out, meaning he is now reportedly quarantining for 14 days after his return home.
This stipulation has seen him miss out on selection for the opening weekend of the Gallagher Premiership’s return to action, and he will also be sidelined from the round 15 matches before becoming available to feature in round 16.
“My contract is up with the RFU at the end of the season… but I’m fit as I have ever been – that’s what my scores tell me”
– veteran match official Wayne Barnes talks to @heagneyl ahead of his latest Six Nations assignment #WALvFRA ?????????https://t.co/R6KYLJ5svz— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 22, 2020
With Barnes out of the loop, Pearce has been handed the whistle for Friday’s restart match, the meeting of Harlequins and Sale at The Stoop which will be the first game to be played in the Premiership in 159 days.
Foley is in charge of Saturday’s fixture between league leaders Exeter and Leicester, with Carley on deck for the Bristol-Saracens match up, while former Harlequins scrum-half Dickson will be on duty at Franklin’s Gardens for Sunday’s only game.
ROUND 14 GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP REFEREE APPOINTMENTS
Friday, August 14
Harlequins v Sale Sharks (Twickenham Stoop, 7:45pm)
Referee: Luke Pearce (98th Premiership game). Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson & Paul Dix. TMO: Rowan Kitt. Citing Officer: David Guyan.
Saturday, August 15
Worcester Warriors v Gloucester Rugby (Sixways, 12:30pm)
Referee: Christophe Ridley (23rd Premiership game). Assistant Referees: Andrew Jackson & Wayne Falla. TMO: Keith Lewis. Citing Officer: John Byett.
Exeter Chiefs v Leicester Tigers (Sandy Park, 2pm)
Referee: Tom Foley (77th Premiership game). Assistant Referees: Greg Macdonald & Jonathan Healy. TMO: Stuart Terheege. Citing Officer: Buster White.
Bath Rugby v London Irish (Recreation Ground, 3pm)
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (74th Premiership game). Assistant Referees: Robert Warburton & Phil Watters. TMO: David Grashoff. Citing Officer: Brian Campsall.
Bristol Bears v Saracens (Ashton Gate, 4:30pm)
Referee: Matthew Carley (93rd Premiership game). Assistant Referees: Adam Leal & Jack Makepeace. TMO: Claire Hodnett. Citing Officer: Duncan Bell.
Sunday, August 16
Northampton Saints v Wasps (Franklin’s Gardens, 3pm)
Referee: Karl Dickson (26th Premiership game). Assistant Referees: Anthony Woodthorpe AND Hamish Smales. TMO: Graham Hughes. Citing Officer: Danae Zamboulis.
Everything you need to know ahead of the Prem's big weekend https://t.co/idh9apIG0j
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 12, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments