AWARDS SPEAKER > WAYNE BARNES

Wayne Barnes is one of the world’s leading international sports officials, named World Rugby Referee of the Year in 2019 and took charge of the recent Rugby World Cup Final in 2023. He announced his professional refereeing retirement after a record-breaking career spanning five RWCs and over 100 test matches.

A practising criminal barrister since 2003, Wayne balances his legal career with his professional rugby commitments and TV punditry, and is part of the Government Investigation and White Collar Crime team. He is regularly instructed by National & International Governing Bodies, professional sports organisations, commercial sponsors and rights holders on all aspects of sports law, governance, ethics and safeguarding.

In addition, Wayne specialises in bribery and corruption and other financial crime investigations and has acted for many multinational companies who have been prosecuted by the world’s largest international law enforcement agencies.

Cheating, fighting, death threats, controversy, failure, success, the sublime to the ridiculous – Wayne has been there – and with a book and podcast too, has many stories to tell.

With relationships in football, cricket, tennis and many more, his insight into the challenges faced by global sport is detailed, with unique experience from behind the scenes at some of sport’s biggest competitions.