PREMIERSHIP rugby referee Wayne Barnes found himself on the end of a hearty shove by 17st Georgian back rower Viktor Kolelishvili on the weekend.

But the ex-Bream RFC player stood his ground in the face of the towering Clermont man, and in a situation where many referees would have reached for a red card, simply warned Kolelishvili of his conduct and gave a penalty to opponents Ospreys.

Welsh wonder Dan Biggar duly converted the kick in the European Champions Cup tie, after Barnes told the Georgian ’if I’m standing in your way, please just ask me to move’!

The frustrated flanker pushed Barnes aside with the referee in his way at the breakdown, and although escaped further punishment, he was later sent to the bin in the 21-13 loss in Swansea due to his involvement in a scuffle with Alyn Wyn Jones.

Barnes was praised for his decision making over the prior incident by Irish legend Brian O’Driscoll, who said on Twitter: "What a nuts things to do! Fair play to Barnes for not overreacting."

Kolslishvili has now been suspended for 14 weeks for pushing Barnes.