With less than a month to go until the Rugby World Cup kicks off in London, welook at one of the world's best referees in all his glory. Nigel Owens, who's brought class, standards and entertainment to the game since beginning his professional career in 2002, has come up with some cracking one- liners over the years. Let's take a look at the top 10.
First we begin with what is probably Owens' most famous quote. It has become a world-wide favourite for rugby fans. As everyone knows, scrum-halves are renowned for their complaining and whining, and referees seem to tolerate it.However in 2012, Owens was the whistle-blower in a RaboDirect PRO12 match between Munster and Bennetton Treviso when Treviso scrum-half Tobias Botes began complaining that the Munster captain Paul O'Connell wasn't releasing at the ruck. Nigel calls him over… and after a long lecture… ends with "This is not soccer". Class.
This was a game in his native region out West. In the Magners League clash between the Scarlets and Irish province Leinster, things start to boil over down in Parc y Scarlets. A high tackle from Leinster flanker Sean O'Brien sparks a mass brawl between the two sides; unfortunately the incident wasn't seen by any of the 3 match officials, therefore no action was taken… or so we thought… Without taking any nonsense from either team, Nigel calls all 30 players in for a 'quick chat'. To commentator Jonathan Davies' delight, Owens calmly exclaims "I don't want to make a big issue out of this…".
A little unfortunate incident between the French fly half Jules Palisson and England flanker Tom Wood sparks a brawl in the French capital. After a TMO review of the incident, Owens would like to clear everything up with the 2 captains and the 3 other players involved, to which he says clearly and without hesitation, "This doesn't look good, it's not good". Second voice commentator Brian Moore responds with "You've got to love Nigel Owens"… Yeah, that's what we were thinking.
Italy skipper Sergio Parisse is in action for club side Stade Francais against Bath. He kicks down field and it bounces beautifully into touch, a kick that any fly-half or top kicker in the world would be proud of. From the resulting line-out, Stade win a penalty on the 22m line. Parisse signals to Owens that they will be going for goal, to which Owens replies "Do you want to take the kick after that one?" even though, Parisse isn't the chosen kicker for his club.
As one of the best referees in the World, Nigel Owens is appointed to some of the best games in all competitions. We visit the Heineken Cup for number 5 where Belfast side Ulster and English Premiership legends Leicester Tigers line up in a crucial pool match. Tigers centre Anthony Allen doesn't agree with the penalty Nigel's just given against his side so he complains. With most referees you might get away with it, but you're making a huge mistake complaining to Nige. With another football-related response, he replies to Allen, "The football stadium is 500 yards that way".
It's the opening match of the European Rugby Champions Cup (Heineken Cup) on a cold night at the Twickenham Stoop. Two Aviva Premiership sides take to the field - Harlequins and Wasps. A cwtching session between the players results in one of Nigel Owens' best put-downs… "It's embarrassing… If you want to cwtch, do it off the field, not on it!".
Another European Champions Cup match at the Stoop, a 'quins line-out on the half way line goes terribly wrong for Dave Ward. The ball goes so far off-course that even his own team can't get to it.... Owens' turns to him and delivers the brilliant one-liner… "I'm straighter than that one".
Back to the Six Nations where we see France playing England in Paris. A kick through from England results in a foot race between England full back Mike Brown and French winger Yoann Huget. Huget wins the race and runs the ball in to touch. Mike Brown however wants to take a quick line-out… and immaturely Huget throws the ball away resulting in an altercation between the two. Owens calls the pair in, asks them if they're finished, then, like a father to his son, says - "You're both acting very immature". He happily sends them both on their way.
Once again we revisit the Six Nations and again it involves the French and the English. England captain Chris Robshaw queries Nigel Owens about a French player who was lying around the base of a previous ruck, to which Nigel tells him there was nothing wrong with the play. Robshaw regretfully saying "He was…" to which Owens sarcastically replies "Uhh… Christopher". "Sorry sir", replies Christopher. Classic.
It's a Heineken Cup knockout match between Munster and Toulouse at Thomond Park, where the scrums were a mess. Nigel Owens eventually gets fed up and calls the two front rows over. He questions the six of them by asking "You don't like to scrummage? Well if you don't, you're in the wrong position". The commentators loved it, pointing out that "Someone should make a Nigel Owens quote book".
