Centurion Nigel bows out on top
NIGEL Owens, the referee with the most appearances in international matches, has brought an end to his Test career.
The Welshman, 49, took charge of his 100th international last month – France’s Autumn Nations Cup game against Italy – and has announced that game will be his last.
“Nobody has a divine right to go on forever,” Owens said. “When you’re getting older it gets more difficult and what I think people don’t appreciate sometimes is the commitment that you do as a referee, away from your family – in 20 years you’re away so much.
“So you lose out on a lot of things you don’t have the chance to get back. It’s a huge commitment and you’re doing it for so long and there comes a time where the body starts telling you ‘ the time is coming’.
“I wasn’t going to be around for 2023 – and I didn’t want to be around for 2023 because of the huge commitment. The 100th game was a special milestone to reach. To go out on 100 is a good time to go.”
Owens’ first international was Portugal’s meeting with Georgia in 2003. He refereed the 2015 World Cup final as well as several European club finals.
Owens hopes to continue refereeing in the PRO14 as well as locally in Wales this season and possibly in 2021-22.
Owens surpassed Jonathan Kaplan as the referee with the most international appearances when he took charge of his 71st Test, between Fiji and Tonga, in 2016
“I will certainly continue to referee in the community game because when you are very fortunate to get so much out of something, I think it’s hugely important that you give something back to it as well,” he said.
“I’ll also be going into a coaching role with the WRU helping some of our talented, young referees we have here in Wales, so that is something I’m quite excited about.
“We currently have five referees including myself refereeing at PRO14 level so it will be exciting to help them make further progress, as well as our other upcoming male and female referees.”