Rugby: IRB increases security around referee Wayne Barnes

Referee Wayne Barnes sent Luke McAlister to the sin bin. Photo / Getty Images

The IRB has put extra security measures in place to protect Wayne Barnes, the referee blamed by some All Blacks supporters for the loss to France at the World Cup.

The security will be in place this weekend when Barnes attends the South Africa-Argentina semi-final in Paris. Barnes will be working in the technical area at the Stade de France.

The move follows a number of personal attacks on Barnes, including his Wikipedia entry being hacked into on Monday and a mock obituary posted.

Many All Blacks fans hold Barnes responsible for the narrow defeat to France after he missed a forward pass during the build-up to France's match-winning try, and for sending Luke McAlister to the sin-bin in the second half.

- NEWSTALK ZB