Former top ref Nigel Owens reveals worst player he’s ever refereed

Not surprisingly, firebrands Austin Healey and Dan Biggar feature, but there was a shock as England lock Maro Itoje made the naughty list.

Owens became the first rugby union referee to reach 100 tests when he took charge of the Autumn Nations Cup game between France and Italy in Paris in 2020.

Reflecting on his Test career, which began with a game between Portugal and Georgia in 2003, Owens added: "I haven't refereed in order to reach milestones, but obviously when those milestones happen like when you get your first cap, it is something special.

"When I got my 50th cap out in Dublin it was Brian O'Driscoll's last international game in Ireland, so that was quite a special occasion, and then obviously as the years go by you aim to go to a Rugby World Cup, then another one.

"After the 2019 World Cup, going into the Six Nations, I probably was looking then to call it a day around that time, and all of a sudden you are on 98 Test matches.

"Thankfully, I got another two games and reached that milestone, so it is something I am proud of. But more importantly, I made my family and community proud, which I think is more important."

Here are his worst five players to deal with during his time working in international rugby...

Owens said: “Definitely Healey. I only caught him towards the end of his career, thankfully.

"A wonderfully talented player and a very good pundit now, but he always had plenty say and quickly assumed I didn’t like him.

"He’s actually blocked me on Twitter, but I don’t think I’m the only one.”

Owens said: "Oh god yes, Biggar can be a tricky customer on the field.

"He's so focused and so passionate about what he's doing no matter the game or occasion, we've had a few run ins on the pitch down the years.

"I mean, it's always been in a respectful way and we always have a drink and a laugh after the game."

"The Ospreys scrum-half has actually started refereeing now, but he'd always be in my ear all game when he was a player. He certainly thought he knew the laws then."

OWENS SAID: "Itoje is someone who plays right on the edge. That is what makes him such a great player. He must be so difficult to play against but he’s also difficult to referee and I mean that with the utmost respect. 

"He plays with passion and on the line. It is difficult to tell Itoje not to bring the same confrontation and aggression to the game that he usually does. It would take away from his game.

"You don’t want him to change the way he plays but he needs to pick and choose when he gambles on the situation and when he doesn’t. And understand better those moments when you are under pressure and knowing when, if you take a risk and get it wrong, you will land your team in real trouble."

Owens said: “Definitely! ROG and (Peter) Stringer, oh, when you had to referee the two of them together.

"I always got on well with the both of them though. I have a huge amount of respect for them, but they made my days hard on occasions. They were lippy in a respectful way.”