“He blocked me” – 4 rugby players Nigel Owens simply cannot stand
Rugby NewsSunday, 29 May 2022 at 15:29
Popular referee Nigel Owens has built his reputation on being one of the nicest guys in rugby who seems to get on with almost everyone.
However, that's not the case with these three players with the famous whistleblower getting into high-profile spats with them down the years.
#1. Israel Folau
Owens, who came out as gay in 2007, spoke to the BBC about Israel Folau being sacked for his homophobic views, saying: "It is an important message from the Australian Rugby Union, who I think have dealt with it properly in the only way that they could.
"It is a clear message going out to people that there are consequences for expressing those beliefs, which are very, very hurtful and not acceptable in today’s society.
"Rugby is a sport inclusive for all, which means I can be a part of the sport. When you’re in that sport you must respect other people within that sport.’
He added: ‘I cannot choose my sexuality; I can choose what religion I follow, I can choose what kind of person I am — I’m a good person — what sport I play. There are many, many things I can choose in life but my sexuality is not one of them, that’s what I’d like them to understand"
#2. Austin Healey
When discussing the WORST players to referee, Owens said: "“Definitely Austin 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.”
Healey later went onto slam Owens for being a celebrity referee in an article for The Telegraph.
In his own column, Owens responded by saying: "I would have thought doing Pontyberem versus Tumble under nines on a Sunday morning, the Bridgend Festival and various community games which I try to say yes to, is a million miles away from being a so-called ‘celebrity referee’."
#3. Maro Itoe
Owens says Itoje can be a nightmare to manage during a game due to his style of play.
“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.
"Honestly, I couldn't stand refereeing him as if you took your eye off him for a second he'd be at it.”
#4. Luke FItzgerald
In 2017, Owens, one of the most respected refs in the game, told Munster lock Billy Holland: ‘Advantage is over there lads. It’s poor play by you there on the pass. Under no pressure there’ after he lost the ball for his team.’
Holland fired back, saying ‘Cheers coach’, all of which was picked up on the ref’s mic.
After the game, former Irish winger Luke Fitzgerald told independent.ie there was ‘no place for it in the game’.
Owens has since taken to Twitter to explain himself, tweeting: ‘The game is about the players not the ref. I didn’t say a witty thing or a put down. I just explained why advantage was over. Nothing more.’
But Fitzgerald, who has retired from rugby due to injury, didn’t leave it there and there was a bit of a back and forth between the two after Ross Campbell tweeted Fitzgerald the ref’s response.
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