Barnes to referee Saints’ final clash with Tigers
Wayne Barnes will referee Saints’ Premiership grand final showdown with Leicester Tigers at Twickenham next Saturday.
The last time the official took charge of a Northampton game was on March 30, when Jim Mallinder’s men were beaten 36-8 at Franklin’s Gardens by the Tigers.
Barnes has refereed a number of east midlands derbies in recent years, the most infamous of which coming in May, 2011.
Leicester’s Manu Tuilagi landed a barrage of blows on then Saints wing Chris Ashton, with the outcome a yellow card for both players.
Saints went on to lose the Premiership play-off semi-final 11-3, having struggled to come to terms with the decision.
Barnes was also in charge a of the game at Welford Road in December, 2011, when Tigers scored a debatable late try to seal a 30-25 win.