A RUGBY player and a referee with Forest connections are both on top of the world after scooping top honours in Japan at the Rugby World Cup.

A magnificent seven tries for Wales winger Josh Adams, who was playing for Cinderford RFC just three years ago, saw him crowned top try-scorer after he added another touchdown in the bronze medal play-off loss to New Zealand on Friday.

And match official Wayne Barnes from Bream, who reffed that clash with the Kiwis, was named World Rugby Referee of the Year at the end of the tournament on Sunday.

Wayne, who returns to the Forest every year to hold a charity match for Breast Cancer Now at Lydney RFC, was presented with the prestigious accolade by the chairman of World Rugby’s referees’ selection committee, Anthony Buchanan, at The Prince Park Towers in Tokyo.

This was his fourth Rugby World Cup and he is one of the most recognisable rugby referees in the global game.

He holds the record for the most Premiership English rugby matches officiated and has refereed more finals in England’s top-tier than anybody else – eight in all.

Wayne, who attended Whitecross School in Lydney, and then Monmouth School, took up the whistle at the age of 15, and works as a criminal barrister at Fulcrum Chambers in the City of London, dealing mainly with fraud.

Former Cinderford RFC flyer Adams, 24, proved the most deadly player with ball in hand, with his incredible try haul in Japan.

His final try saw him burrow over from two feet out after a ruck on the All Blacks line to leave South Africa’s Makazole Mapimpi needing two tries in the final against England 24 hours later to match him.

And although the Springbok went over for his sixth try in the 32-12 triumph over England, he couldn’t catch Josh, who only three years ago was on the wing at Dockham Road while on loan from Worcester RFC.

Wales’ other try sco- rer in the 40-17 defeat to New Zealand was Barnes’ fellow Old Monmothian Hallam Amos, who was making his second appearance in the tournament after playing in the pool match win against Uruguay.