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Wayne Barnes slams referees’ union for role in rebellion over RFU pay

By PA
Wayne Barnes - PA

World Cup final official Wayne Barnes has criticised the Rugby Football Referees’ Union and its role in a grassroots rebellion over the Rugby Football Union pay and bonuses scandal.

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The RFU has agreed to hold a special general meeting after the Six Nations when the governing body’s under-fire chief executive Bill Sweeney will face calls for his removal.

A community game uprising, including the referees’ union, began after it was revealed Sweeney received £1.1million for the 2023-24 financial year, comprising of an increased salary of £742,000 and a bonus of £358,000. Bonuses totalling almost £1m were also paid to a further five executives.

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It comes despite the RFU reporting an operating loss of £37.9m for 2023-24 – the highest it has ever recorded – and making 42 staff redundant.

Infuriated by the executives’ pay and bonus scandal that came to light in November, as well as other grievances, a formal letter featuring the signatories of 141 RFU member clubs and referees’ societies was submitted on January 9.

The Telegraph reports it has seen a letter from former leading English referee Barnes, who controlled more than 100 Test matches and retired after taking charge of the 2023 World Cup final, in which he accuses his own union of harming the “credibility of every referee across England”.

The paper says Barnes’ letter, sent to all referees and referees’ societies, states: “When our Union sends an email with language like this, it damages every referee, because if referees can openly criticise other members of the game, why can’t the game openly criticise referees?

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“This is something we have all worked hard to campaign against. The (RFU) council members the RFRU accuse of trying to stifle good governance are volunteers of the game, just like you.”

Barnes goes on to say “referees should have a strong voice in the game, but this is not the right way to do it”.

The PA news agency has contacted the referees’ union for comment.

In another development, it has emerged the RFU has employed crisis-management company Teneo as fall-out continues.

It is understood, though, that suggestions the RFU is paying Teneo £5,000 a day are inaccurate.

The arrangement is believed to be a three-month contract for a small number of days each month at non-commercial rates to support the RFU as it transitions to a new executive member for communications.

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2 Comments
R
RedWarrior 30 days ago

Barnes is on the board of the RFU as referee representative. The Referees Union who wrote the letter calling for a Special General Meeting over the pay of execs/losses and more made mistakes. A symtom of a good letter is that you can stand behind every line in it as factual. While there are several good points in their letter they allowed a few ill thought out rants. This meant that the Board via Wayne Barnes can undermine the letter by focusing on the inaccuracies which weakens the real points. I'm not saying Barnes is acting untoward, he's not, he is concerned about refs showing hypocricy and he is also defending the RFU.

The Referees position is weakened simply by not being able to write a proper letter.

This is not untypical of sporting organisations and representatives at all levels.

O
Oh no, not him again? 31 days ago

It's an interesting point of view. If refs opening criticise other rugby officials, are they throwing stones in greenhouses? If a fan criticised a ref in a derogatory way and then called me hypocritical for telling that's not what we do in rugby I'd still tell 'em what they are doing is wrong. They know they are misbehaving, so call 'em out.

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JD 1 hour ago
Steve Borthwick urged by predecessor to make radical Ben Earl decision

Happy to concede I mis read stats in relation to games played. Sorry about that.


Ojomoh is only a guaranteed starter when Redpath isn’t injured for Bath. Luckily for him Redpath is has been quite injury prone recently, but when Cam is fit, he starts. I like him, but he doesn’t have the second playmaker ability which England seem to prefer at 12.


Seb has not even made the A’s squad and is a long way from a call up. 2 years is too soon.


I’m not going to change my mind in respect of BJVR, mainly because I do not see his age as an issue (30 at the next world cup) and because I don’t see the issue with selecting players who are qualified for our country.


He fits the bill perfectly in terms of his skillset and type of play, he has been playing at the top level of club rugby for the last 6 years or so and is regarded as one of the best in our league in his position, starting week in/ week out for the second placed team.


If he was 33 or so at the next world cup, or if his form went off a cliff, I would agree with you. Neither of these are the case. If his form continues, he comes into the squad. No pressure to immediately excel as there will be around 10 games between a potential first cap and the WC.


Main mistake being made, regardless of the above, is SB persisting with Slade. Why not give Ojomoh a go now and see? Why not try Dingwall? Steve’s run of poor results mean he has slightly lost the ability to try different things unless we get some wins. I expect Ojomoh to tour Argentina in the summer though.

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S
Spew_81 2 hours ago
'He wants players to be able to play four positions': Former All Black critiques Robertson's strategy

I’m not making it up regarding to Hansen’s intentions for the 10 jersey for the All Blacks in regards to McKenzie.


Lima Sopoaga retired in 2020.


McKenzie started in the third All Blacks vs France test in Dunedin in 2018. Hansen started McKenzie at 10 and put Mo’unga on the bench: Damian McKenzie's 24 point game! + Rieko Ioane hat trick: All Blacks vs France 2018 » allblacks.com.


Or see this article just before the match: Damian McKenzie takes hold of All Blacks No 10 jersey while Richie Mo’unga looms large | Stuff.


Damian is coming along nicely," Hansen told All Blacks TV. "He has shown he can play genuine test rugby as a fullback and the other night he put in a good stint at first-five for us.”


Hansen was giving Mo’unga a raw deal at the same time:


Hansen has indicated that Mo'unga will get a decent amount of game time, despite missing out on a starting spot. "Richie will get his shot off the bench,” said Hansen. "He has a strong ability to drive the team when he has been given an opportunity, so we are extremely confident he can do the job."


Mo’unga only got a real look in when McKenzie got badly injured and couldn’t make RWC 2019.


Hansen wanted B Barrett at 10 and saw McKenzie as the next option with Mo’unga in third place, in case of injury.


Cruden was playing Top 14 from 2017-2019, so he was fit enough to play at a high level. A an experienced 10 who was a game manager, who worked well with SBW could’ve been useful.


Regarding the Board. They were right to give Hansen the freedom to try his ideas. He was very successful. The All Blacks looked awesome against Ireland in the RWC 2019 quarter final. They were unprepared to play England in the semi though. It was more the Board installing Foster as the coach, and not removing him after two seasons, that was the Board’s error. The repercussions of that are still being worked through.

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