Rugby referee Wayne Barnes has revealed he underwent surgery during last year's World Cup to restart his heart

The revelation comes in a new biography on the now retired whistle blower, entitled Throwing The Book.

Barnes was treated for atrial fibrillation in 2009, but needed another trip to London to see his cardiologist mid-tournament after his heart began racing during Wales' pool win over Australia at Lyon.

He didn't tell his World Cup bosses about the problem.

Barnes wrote that both teams, somewhat conveniently, started to give away a lot of penalties which reduced his running requirements for the rest of the match.