England have best chance but in Lions year every nation goes up a level
The Six Nations kicks off without the great Welsh referee for the first time in 14 years. He tells NEIL SQUIRES he will be on his farm instead after his Test retirement
Q HOW WILL YOU FEEL NOT BEING OUT IN THE MIDDLE THIS WEEKEND?
A At the moment I’m not missing it as much as I thought I would to be honest. Maybe that’s a sign it was the right time to hang up the whistle. Whether it is because of Covid and no spectators or being busy with the farm and TV work for S4C and BBC Scrum V in Wales, I don’t know, but I’m OK with it.
Q WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER OF YOUR SIX NATIONS REFEREEING DEBUT – ENGLAND V ITALY AT TWICKENHAM IN 2007?
A My mum was very ill with cancer at the time and watched at home but my dad was at the game. It was the first time he’d ever been out of Wales. I was quite nervous but the assessor that day gave me a very good mark. I remember him saying, ‘If he continues to referee like this he will have a bright future in front of him’.
Q WHAT WAS YOUR STANDOUT GAME?
A I refereed a few Grand Slam deciders and a few wooden spoon deciders, too, but the England v France game in 2015 at Twickenham was my favourite. It was an amazing game of rugby at the end of an amazing Super Saturday.
Q THAT WAS THE GAME WHERE YOU TOLD OFF CHRIS ROBSHAW AS “CHRISTOPHER!” WHAT WAS YOUR BEST ONE-LINER? THE “THIS IS NOT SOCCER” LINE TO SILENCE A YAPPY TREVISO SCRUM-HALF AGAINST MUNSTER MAYBE?
A It was probably Harlequins against Montpellier when Dave Ward chucked a ball into the lineout that landed in the scrum-half’s hands. No one knew where to look it was such a bad throw. It was very awkward. I said to Dave: “I’m straighter than that!”
Q HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING A GAY ROLE MODEL IN SPORT?
A I never came out to be a trailblazer but I realise it did help break down barriers and help people to deal with their sexuality and be comfortable with themselves, whether within rugby or outside rugby. When I look back, that would be my proudest achievement above refereeing any World Cup final. I’m proud that I was able to be myself and proud of the game of rugby for allowing me to be myself.
Q HOW DO YOU SEE THIS YEAR’S SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP UNFOLDING? YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE NEUTRAL NOW.
A There is a lot of talent in that Wales squad and when they click they are going to be strong contenders. If they can beat Ireland they will have momentum behind them and be capable of doing well if not winning the Six Nations but tomorrow is a massive game for them. I don’t think there will be a Grand Slam this year. The team with the best chance of one is England. But in a Lions year every home nation goes up a level.
Q DO YOU THINK OFFICIALS SHOULD HAVE TO LEARN FRENCH AND ITALIAN FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP?
A No. If you ask the players they just want the best referees, not the referee who can speak French or Italian. I remember speaking to Thierry Dusautoir about it. He said that he didn’t care what language I spoke, he just wanted me because I was the best referee. English is the language of world rugby. If you can speak a bit of something else then great but it’s not the be-all and end-all. Should referees have to learn Welsh for Wales? Or Spanish for Argentina? Or Japanese?