Owens set for extra time in his ref career

NIGEL Owens has shelved plans to retire and today revealed he intends to carry on refereeing for at least one more year.

The hugely popular official says he has come to a decision about his future after using the coronavirus lockdown to ‘recharge my batteries, physically and mentally.’

Owens was considering calling it a day at the end of the 2019-20 campaign and felt the France v England Six Nations opener in Paris may have been his final Test match in the middle.

However, he has decided to continue at domestic and European level at least and hopes his performances persuade World Rugby to continue using him at international level too.

His decision comes as a huge boost to rugby fans throughout the world, who love Owens’ unique and engaging style of refereeing, and to the Welsh Rugby Union because of the profile he brings to the sport.

It will also prove a popular decision with players everywhere who have a huge respect for the way Owens officiates matches.

The man who refereed the 2015 World Cup final and the England versus New Zealand 2019 semi-final says he simply couldn’t hang up his whistle with the current uncertainty going on in the game.

“With the uncertainty surrounding sport at the moment, it would have been a very odd time to call it a day.

“I just can’t get my head around finishing not knowing it has been your last game,” said Owens in his WalesOnline column.

But the main reasons for Owens continuing are because he feels fit and still at the top of his game. He is also grateful to the Welsh Rugby Union for their support, having held recent conversations with officials at the governing body to discuss his future.

Owens has come through a gruelling schedule of matches which saw him referee more Tests than any other official from August 2019 to the England v New Zealand semifinal in Japan.

“With the support of my WRU employers, I’m happy to say I’m carrying on,” he added.