Record-breaking referee Wayne Barnes has lifted the lid on the players who made his job the hardest—and the answers might surprise you.
From joking front-rowers to intimidating World Cup winners, Barnes has ranked the five toughest personalities he had to deal with across a career that spanned 111 Test matches and five Rugby World Cups.
And his No.1 pick? A player widely considered one of the greatest of all time.
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The Players Who Tested Wayne Barnes the Most
Joe Marler – The Joker Who Never Switched Off
Joe Marler has built a reputation as one of rugby’s biggest characters—and that didn’t stop when speaking to referees.
The Harlequins prop, who has earned over 80 England caps, was a key part of the side that reached the 2019 Rugby World Cup final. But it’s his personality that made him stand out.
Barnes admitted:
“He was always a funny one… you’d be trying to tell him something serious and he’d just want to have a laugh.”
Matt Dawson – The Classic Scrum-Half
World Cup winner Matt Dawson fits the stereotype perfectly.
A central figure in England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup triumph, Dawson was known for controlling games—and constantly talking.
Barnes said:
“Scrum-halves are always the worst, especially Matt.”
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