Nigel Owens is recognised as one of the world’s best rugby
referees. As the first openly gay man to come out in professional rugby as a
referee, he’s made history within the sport. Born and bred on a council estate
in Mynyddcerrig, Wales, he first picked up the referee whistle aged 16. Owens
officiated his first international game in 2005 between Ireland and Japan in
Osaka. He is the current record holder for test matches refereed, and made his
World Cup debut in 2007 in France. He is the only referee ever to be appointed
to referee three consecutive Heineken Cup finals (2015, 2016 & 2017) as
well as refereeing another three finals in 2008, 2009 and 2012, making it a
record six European cup finals as well as two challenge cup finals. In 2015,
Nigel was appointed referee for the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final between New
Zealand and Australia at Twickenham.
Aside from refereeing, Nigel is a co-presenter on S4C’s
Jonathan, the rugby-themed Welsh language show hosted by Jonathan Davies. He
also presents other Welsh language chat shows on S4C. Nigel has earned huge
plaudits for his Desert Island Discs programme on Radio 4 hosted by Kirsty
Young. In 2017 he presented the Panorama programme on Eating Disorders in Men
and Boys.
Nigel’s autobiography was released in in Nov 2008, in Welsh
called “Hanner Amser” (Half Time). After earning the title of Gay Sports
Personality of the Year from gay rights group Stonewall at their annual 2007
awards ceremony in London, Nigel was named Gay Sports Personality of the Decade
in 2016. In 2011, he was made a member of the Gorsedd of Bards at its National
Eisteddfod in Wrexham for his services to the Welsh language. Topping his
awards cabinet off with an MBE for services to sport in June 2016, Nigel
continues to referee international rugby matches around world, and has just
been selected to referee at his fourth consecutive Rugby World Cup in Japan
this year 2019.