Marius Jonker backs Wayne Barnes

World-ranked rugby match officials are a close-knit group, and it comes as no surprise that RWC 2023 TMO Marius Jonker has given full support for beleaguered fellow referee Wayne Barnes.

Barnes announced his retirement after the final in which he received loads of flak, including serious physical threats to himself and his family.

“Look, it’s something we sign on for when we become test referees; every decision makes one person happy and another person angry, and I don’t think this is in any way an unusual situation,” Jonker told the ZO on Friday.

“He had, in fact, indicated prior to the tournament that this would be his last and I’m happy for him that he had the honour of officiating at the final, thus leaving on the highest possible note.

“He is not just a great ref with huge ability and experience, very calm and unruffled; he is also a gentle person and a great human being and family man.

“Perhaps as South Africans our circumstances make us tougher, ‘target hardened’ and a bit better able to deal with criticism.

“Did he make mistakes? No ref can get it 100 per cent right every time, but he is certainly among the best ever.

“I speak with him regularly and wished him well for the future. I just hope he will not be lost to world rugby because he still has so much to offer in terms of knowledge and experience.”

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