RFU feared abuse and threats would drive Rugby World Cup final ref out of game

28 October 2023 , 10:55

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“I thought that experience would force him out of the game, absolutely I did. And, by the way, I wasn’t alone in that at the RFU. All of us were deeply concerned" (Image: World Rugby via Getty Images)

The only other Englishman to referee a World Cup final feared death threats made to Wayne Barnes the last time the tournament was staged by France would drive him from the game.

Barnes today takes charge of the showpiece clash between New Zealand and South Africa - 28 years after Ed Morrison reffed the 1995 final between these two rugby superpowers.

Morrison says it is fitting reward for Barnes being the “best in the business” and for the strength of character he showed in only his second year as an International ref.

The Gloucester-born barrister was blamed by disgruntled Kiwi fans for New Zealand’s shock quarter-final loss to France in 2007 and subjected to vile abuse.

Morrison said: “I thought that experience would force him out of the game, absolutely I did. And, by the way, I wasn’t alone in that at the RFU. All of us were deeply concerned.

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“Getting abused by faceless people isn’t remotely funny and the threats to Wayne were so personal. We feared we’d lose an outstanding talent.

Ed Morrison blows his whistle to end 1995 Rugby World Cup final, the last time South Africa and New Zealand contested the showpiece (Getty Images)

“We rallied around him obviously from a refereeing perspective and he was in two minds. He showed enormous character to keep going. Underneath that lovely calm exterior he’s a very strong individual.”

He needed to be again last year when this time South Africa supporters targeted not only him but his wife and children after their side lost to France in Marseille.

“There started to be some direct abuse at Polly, my wife,” he later revealed. “Then, the following two or three days, there was direct abuse to Polly, threats of sexual violence and threats against the kids.

Barnes about to yellow card All Blacks star Luke McAlister during New Zealand's quarter-final loss to France in 2007 (AFP via Getty Images)

“That takes it to a different level. When you’ve done 100 games, you think you can prepare for most things. You can’t prepare for that.”

Online abuse and social media pile ons are all-too commonplace these days, as Tom Curry has found to his cost here this week, through no fault of his own.

Morrison thanks his lucky stars he was officiating before the advent of Twitter and Facebook.

Barnes opens up on abuse his family suffered after last year's France-SA game (The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast)

The 1995 final was a massive occasion in the history of post-apartheid South Africa, dubbed the Rainbow Nation by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The pressure on him was huge.

“In New Zealand and South Africa rugby is bigger than the game, it’s bigger than sport,” said Morrison. “It’s a way of life, almost like a religion.

“I can remember being down in New Zealand once when they lost to the Springboks and it was the first agenda in their Parliament on the Monday.

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Springbok captain Francois Pienaar is presented with 1995 World Cup by SA President Nelson Mandela (AFP/Getty Images)

“My recollections of ’95 surround Nelson Mandela and his influence on that occasion. I hadn’t been told he was going to appear on the pitch beforehand, only that there would be a presentation.

“The first I knew was when I saw this slight figure in a green shirt slowly walking down the tunnel. Only when I heard the crowd go crazy did I realise who it was. That will always stick in my mind.”

Alex Spink