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Nigel Owens is deliberating over whether or not he will retire at the end of the current season.
Owens – who historically refereed Wales for the first time having received a special dispensation from World Rugby – told Channel 4 Sport in a post-match interview that he is still undecided about this refereeing future.
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Owens, who is widely regarded as the world’s top referee, says he’s waiting until the Six Nations to make up his mind.
“I’m carrying on for a little bit. Hopefully I’ll be involved in the Six Nations and I’ll sit down and take stock with the people around me and see what’s what.”
Owens appeared to imply that he might stay on for another season.
“Once I’m still enjoying it, but more importantly, once I’m still able to put in the performances, then I’ll continue to enjoy it but I certainly don’t have plans of going on too long.
“I honestly don’t know when that time will be. It won’t be far away. It will be this season or…I honestly don’t know.
"The Welsh supporters are the best in the world…"@Nigelrefowens had a day to remember as he took charge of a @WelshRugbyUnion match for the first time in his career after receiving special dispensation from @WorldRugby#C4rugby #WALvBAR pic.twitter.com/jphQoX59IL
— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) November 30, 2019
Owens has always remained somewhat elusive about his retirement. In 2016 he revealed that he felt he had three years left in him and that the 2019 Rugby World Cup was set to be his swansong.
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Huge congrats last game ovation @RoryBest2 at Wales v Babas
Good 2 see @Nigelrefowens @SanjayWills @George_North too pic.twitter.com/Syns1EDQXu— Nick Knowles (@MrNickKnowles) December 1, 2019
Owens, who reffed the 2015 Rugby World Cup final, was ruled out of contention for the 2019 final due to injury, with Jerome Garces taking charge. Some media outlets had reported that the 48-year-old was set to run the lines as an assistant referee, if he had been fit.
Owens was the first Welshman to referee his own country since Derek Bevan in 2000, also versus the Barbarians.
When Test rugby began in the 1800s the tradition was for the host country to appoint the referee.
The Welshman’s quips and one-liners – as well as his free-flowing refereeing style – have seen him become a celebrity off the pitch in recent years. He starred in a number of tongue-in-cheek ads in the lead up to the Rugby World Cup, which played upon his humourous approach to the game.
The Season 5 – Episode 4
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A must-win fixture against neighbouring Tauranga Boys High School puts the team’s success in the firing line.
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments