nigel owens

Former Test referee Nigel Owens has returned to rugby to help the standard of officiating in the United Rugby Championship (URC). Photo: Getty Images

Nigel Owens names the two best referees in the world … and it’s not him!

Ahead of any Six Nations encounter there is always banter between rival fans, but none more so than in England v Wales at Twickenham.

nigel owens

Former Test referee Nigel Owens has returned to rugby to help the standard of officiating in the United Rugby Championship (URC). Photo: Getty Images

Ahead of any Six Nations encounter there is always banter between rival fans, but none more so than in an historic fixture as England v Wales at Twickenham.

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When World Rugby joined now retired Nigel Owens on his dairy farm, nestled in the Gwendraeth Valley some 15 miles north-west of Swansea late last week before Saturday’s encounter, the record-breaking referee wasted no time in joining in the fun.

When asked which referee fancies himself as the best player, the Welshman couldn’t resist a jokey dig at his English friend and former colleague, Wayne Barnes, whose sole 2022 Six Nations appointment is not until Ireland host Scotland on 19 March.

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“Which referee fancies themselves as the best player? Well, that would be Nic Berry, because he played at the top level for Wasps and Stade as a very, very talented scrumhalf and a very talented referee as well. I’ll tell you which referee wouldn’t make a talented player – Wayne Barnes!”

Flipping the idea on its head, Owens, who refereed the 2015 Rugby World Cup final and became the first referee to officiate in 100 Tests when he took charge of the France v Italy game in the Autumn Nations Cup in November 2020, says there were effectively three referees on the field when this year’s Six Nations kicked off – the actual referee, Jaco Peyper, and two wannabees.

“I’ll tell you what, they’re probably the best two referees in the world, Dan Biggar and Johnny Sexton, because when you ref them they always think they know more than you!”

For the record, England beat Wales 23-19 on Saturday.

Listen to what Nigel Owens had to say: