Who is Ireland vs Scotland referee Wayne Barnes? Senior official and qualified barrister referees Six Nations 2022 match

IRELAND host Scotland on the final Six Nations weekend in Paris.

The Irish must pick up a victory to have any chance of winning the trophy.

Who is Wayne Barnes?

Wayne Barnes was born in 1979 in Bream, in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.

He started playing rugby at the age of eight and then took up refereeing at the age of 15.

At the age of 21, Barnes became the youngest referee ever appointed to the Panel of National referees. He became a professional referee in 2005.

Just two years later, he officiated at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, a competition he would referee at again in 2011 and 2015.

Following the retirement of Wales’ Nigel Owens, many believe Barnes to be the world’s best referee.

In last year’s Six Nations, Barnes sent off Ireland’s Peter O’Mahony against Wales and he was TMO when France’s Paul Willemse was red carded against the Welsh.

Barnes is regularly heard communicating in French when he referees teams from the country in internat