The world’s most experienced international referee, Englishman Wayne Barnes, has been named as the referee to take charge of the 2023 Rugby World Cup final between South Africa and New Zealand.

Barnes, who has 110 international names to his record, will be supported by an all-English team of assistants with Karl Dickson and Matthew Carley running the lines and Tom Foley named as the Television Match Official.

An English referee has only ever taken charge of a World Cup final once before – back in 1995, in another famous Springbok versus All Black final it was Ed Morrison who had the whistle.

In the only other game still to be played, the third-place play-off between England and Argentina it is Australia Nic Berry who will be in charge. He will be supported by Nika Amashukeli of Georgia and Andrew Brace of Ireland, with Welshman Ben Whitehouse as the TMO.

Wayne Barnes records:

• Wayne Barnes refereed his first international game back in 2006, between Fiji and Samoa
• This is the fifth time that Barnes is officiating at a World Cup tournament
• Barnes will set a unique record on Saturday by officiating in his 27th Rugby World Cup match overall
• Saturday game will be his 111th Test, a world record. The previous record for Test games refereed was held by Nigel Owens
• By refereeing the final, Barnes will equal his own record of six games, for most matches officiated during a RWC. He also refereed six in Japan in 2019.