Nigel Owens reveals classy gesture from Owen Farrell

Owens had been subject to some vile criticism online from 'so-called England fans' online following Eddie Jones' sides lacklustre defeat against France in Paris.

He responded to some of the comments, receiving wide applause from the rugby world for putting the trolls in their place.

And in his brilliant column for Wales Online, the referee revealed how the stance from Owen Farrell and his teammates couldn't have been much different.

The England captain presented him with an England jersey with the number 98 on the back. It was Owens' 98th Test and could be his last in the Six Nations.

"It was such a touching gesture from Farrell and his team," wrote Owens.

Class act from England.

First we begin with what is probably Owens’ most famous quote. It has become a world-wide favourite for rugby fans. As everyone knows, scrum-halves are renowned for their complaining and whining, and referees seem to tolerate it.However in 2012, Owens was the whistle-blower in a RaboDirect PRO12 match between Munster and Bennetton Treviso when Treviso scrum-half Tobias Botes began complaining that the Munster captain Paul O’Connell wasn’t releasing at the ruck. Nigel calls him over… and after a long lecture… ends with “This is not soccer”. Class.

Owens is openly gay and campaigns against bullying, but that does mean he’s above being self-deprecating.

During a dodgy Harlequins line-out he told the hooker, in a roundabout way, he best get his throws together.

During the Pro 12 clash between Scarletts and Cardiff Blues in 2017, the Welshman had a swipe at the substitutes. The six new front row players were jostling in the scrum and the referee had to intervene. Intervening apparently wasn't enough though.

In a rude post a disgruntled rugby fan called out the referee, who responded in brutal fashion to put the supporter in his place.

And Owens received lots of support from twitter followers, who applauded him for his swift retribution.

With the action into the second half at Newcastle in 2015, Owens told Scottish full-back Hogg off for diving during the clash leaving him in doubts as to his decision.