8 minutes of no nonsense refereeing

[@al1356]

I wish those pampered prat’s in the FA took note of this. Just because players don’t show respect does not mean that they shouldn’t. Rugby has always had the lead on this, fantastic to hear what the referee says and how they handle the communication. First one to have the backbone to do this in football will set the tone and assist the game all the way down to grass root. To the FA I say watch this and learn what respect is and where it starts.

[@TheIkaraCult]

to be fair footballers arent as bad now as they used to be, 20 years ago you'd get half the team surrounding the ref and shouting in his face, it doesn't happen now, at least at the higher levels.

[@al1356]

@@TheIkaraCult agreed, I still remember that Man Utd v Arsenal game in the 00’s! Football still has some way to go, imagine being a 16 year old grass roots referee. I have heard some horror stories, they are literally the life blood of the sport at that level and deserve better protection in my opinion.

[@rossgeography]

in Ireland respect for the ref esp. at local GAA club games is in dangerous decline with a number of shameful physical assaults - the GAA tried to introduce a Black Card / sin bin but it's rarely used, a red card is incredibly rare.. both soccer and GAA should instil respect for the ref - it's good for kids moral / social development as well - learn to control their anger / grievance and see that events can be seen from a different point of view

[@gerrardholloway2810]

Sad thing is they used to. For years until they introduced the Premier league and inflation of money and egos came with it

[@youlesie23]

I find it infuriating that football "fans" constantly complain about the quality of officiating when they spend all their time abusing officials! There's a shortage of refs as it is, and with all the abuse going on it's only going to get worse

[@jxramshop9658]

"CHRISTPHER!!!", "Sorry Sir!!!" 🤣🤣🤣 Nigel Owens, best Rugby Ref ever.

[@margaretrowlands8162]

Can we clone him.

[@jraymond1988]

Nigel once saw a lineout throw that went sideways and yelled "I'M STRAIGHTER THAN THAT THROW"

[@leahpriddle4]

I saw that too! He's hilarious along with being a fantastic no nonsense ref.

[@michaellawless739]

Classic line

[@seanmurphy1614]

...and his riposte to Peter Stringer when Stringer said " I'm not happy ref"...."Well which one are you then?" 😂

[@Albatross-365]

He once went into a dressing room and a player made a jokey remark to which he replied "you're not my type" 😁

[@mbxyz89]

He contemplated suicide as a young man struggling and became one of the best of us. It's not where you start it's where you finish. Legend

[@barryarcher3761]

Worst day in rugby was the day Nigel Owens retired. The best rugby ref by a long way.

[@tariqmalik8073]

Actually you may find Wayne Barnes was as good if not better. But Nigel had the banter.

[@garethrichards9572]

​@@tariqmalik8073Barnes is the best currently, but Owens is the goat.

[@ChrisHopkinsBass]

@@garethrichards9572 they're both awesome. I thought Barnesy had a stormer in the Wales v Australia game

[@Marcellodelivera]

He'll always be a Legend!

[@opticalmaxim]

He understood the flow of rugby even when players didn’t.

[@edsharp2676]

I don't really watch rugby but I've always really liked Nigel Owens, he really knows how to command the field

[@LiamDilley]

Living legend that man.

[@rw8733]

He's the absolute best referee in my opinion.

[@williamrussell9601]

I'm the opposite - like rugby but absolutely hate Owens . just wants to be centre of attention all the while!

[@dude9318]

​@@williamrussell9601 I think its based on your perception But idk he is just very strict

[@russellcoppack4742]

@@williamrussell9601 hate? I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and suspect you mean ‘dislike from a distance’. How can you hate someone you’ve never met?

[@MrBoggins1234]

"This is not soccer". Love it. Bodycams and recordings a must in cracking down on the players and managers in professional football who show no respect to referees. Was chairman of a grassroots football club and a coach absolutely hated this part of the professional game. Rugby is on another level in so many positive ways on this topic.

[@Twiceonasunday]

But the game is dying.

[@MrBoggins1234]

@@Twiceonasunday how so?

[@Twiceonasunday]

@@MrBoggins1234 Wasps? Poor crowds? League dominating in Australia and growing threats to Union in NZ. Videos like this one make me realise why I switched off. I like my sport a bit more about the play and less about the referee. And actually, if we put more pressure on these self important blowhards then maybe there would be improvements in the game. Start. Stop. Start. Stop….zzzzzzzzzzz

[@MrBoggins1234]

@@Twiceonasunday I guess it's just another perspective on another part of a sport I only occasionally watch, am a novice rugby watcher, sorry it's a sad dissatisfied feeling for you, you clearly love the game. I wrote ages ago about how premiership money was ruining the heart of football attracting the wrong sorts. Like Brian Clough ( not a forest fan but live in Notts) I defended referees ( me from the few disrespectful grassroots players and parents) who seemingky got their queues from watching the TV and seeing a select number of the so called pros act like toddlers.

[@Twiceonasunday]

@@MrBoggins1234 It’s a tremendous sport. Professionalism isn’t helping it anymore. I don’t know the answer. I enjoyed playing it at school. Now I don’t understand the rules, especially scrum and breakdowns. Feel the players are too big and there will be a major health implication in the game coming.

[@Saicofake]

Amazing how a sport that is deemed ‘rough’ has players and refs that respects each other.

[@flemingcourt]

Most of the time.

[@simpleNomadUK]

Winston Churchill once said: “Soccer is a gentleman's game played by hooligans, and rugby is a hooligans' game played by gentlemen“.

[@OriginalPuro]

The more physicality the more respect. You see it all the way to the world strongest men, they all respect each other because they all know the hard work it took to get there.

[@Zacharia503]

Sometimes I get the feeling that the Respect is for the points than can be won or lost.....

[@Boy10Dio]

the sport can't function if the refs isn't respected.

[@khaunleper]

You know what you were doing, don't give me them puppy dog eyes...haha

[@JulioJordio100]

I think its useful for people from countries where rugby isn’t a big deal to understand, that young boys when learning to play are taught to call the ref Sir. You always call a rugby ref Sir. That should tell you everything about how respectful you should be to a ref in rugby.

[@DevSolar]

In my country, _American Football_ is not a big deal. The way we were taught it, you don't speak to the ref, period. If he flags you, he flags you. If you need to complain, talk to your team captain. I've always held that this would be a healthy thing for soccer in particular: Team captain being the only one *allowed* to talk to the ref, with anyone else being flat-out carded.

[@MikePerryLegit]

@@DevSolar In rugby it's similar, if you feel like the ref is missing something the other team is doing you talk to your captain who talks to the ref, you never ever say any complaints directly to him or you'll get carded and shouting any sort of complaint in open play will get a penalty against you. He will address you directly if he's warning you though and will call you and your captain over to speak to him, your captain generally being expected to speak on your behalf, with you usually only saying things like "ok Sir" or "my mistake Sir".

[@AB-gb6zz]

I think it's useful for people from countries where football isn't a big deal to understand that young boys when learning to play are taught to call the ref a "bloody w4nker" and scream "oi reffff" and "oi lino" or the courteous phrase "you blind??" when they disagree. The beautiful game.

[@crizzl380]

​@@DevSolarWhat's "soccer"?

[@DevSolar]

​@@crizzl380 The term used in the English language when you want to unambiguously refer to that particular sport to an international audience when it is not clear from the context. Alternatively, that sport where the athletes behave like street toughs, unless they've been touched (or appear to have been touched) in some way, which is when they behave like crybabies. SInce I've already been referring to American Football in the comment section of a Rugby video, I felt some additional unambiguousness would be required. Get over it.

[@tomshearman886]

Utterly fantastic. The vast majority took their punishment apologised and called the ref Sir. Refs were call fair and confident. No mess no fuss. Perfect.

[@peterrussell3470]

The refs don't say the rule is they say the law is. That's how it is done thank you,here's your punishment now let's get on with the game

[@jham9470]

I love how about half this video is just Nigel being Nigel.

[@biolf1]

The closest thing we had to this standard of refereeing in football was Pierluigi Collina.

[@thomaswalsh4924]

Until he came out of 'retirement' to favour Villareal and retired again shortly after.

[@hb1338]

Just one look from the bulging eyes was enough to cow the players into submission.

[@jamesconnolly3988]

@@thomaswalsh4924 theres always a bluenose still going on about Collina. Got beat in both legs, but still the ref's fault!

[@daveburton8399]

Don't forget Englands Jack Taylor tho'

[@txbill2512]

Bent as F. Screwed Everton over against Villarreal.

[@paulgoodwin81]

Total respect all the way. As they say. Rugby is a thugs game played by gentlemen and football is a gentleman’s game played by thugs.

[@blushinglampshade]

Do you know what football fans always say about rugby?

[@dude9318]

​@@blushinglampshade No not really But not many football fans even know what rugby is Because majority of Europe and South America that are crazy over football doesn't know rugby

[@blushinglampshade]

@@dude9318 Exactly. They say nothing!

[@dude9318]

@@blushinglampshade ey i was right Lol

[@bury_the_elite65294]

And this from a League fan in AU; League (well, in the NRL at least)is a thug's/prima-donna's game played by thugs/prima-donnas (especially the M_nly Sea Eagles, the smarmiest & dirtiest pack of glass-jawed ar--holes out there, always have been - just ask Western Suburbs).

[@timotheepetit]

4:01 "He was wiped out! Wiped out by Wayne 'The Pipe Cleaner' Barnes, there's barely an ounce of fat on Barnes and he's sent Britts back into last Wednesday" That's an awesome quote

[@dylanboswell9975]

This part always gets me 😂

[@RadioactiveSherbet]

Yeah! And the fact Barnes was stationary, yet made the *other* guy fall down.

[@theena]

The urgghh Christopher and sideeye gets me always lol. 'Sorry, Nigel', scampers off, the big tree trunk of a man from the tiny but scary referee.

[@hb1338]

The referee isn't in the slightest bit scary, but the degree of his authority most certainly is. The phrase "er, Christopher" has become a well-used favourite in my family, along with "language, Timothy".

[@stephenreeds3632]

He actually said..."sorry, sir."

[@BoredInAfrica]

I love how Nigel Owens makes up a good few of the videos here, he really was the greatest ref in rugby

[@atheoshk]

Nigel Owens, absolute living legend. Most reasonable, professional referee to have ever existed. The game of rugby has been blessed to have had his service.

[@sandrapowell-m7z]

Totally agree. Brilliant ref. From England fan.

[@skparkes1969]

This standard should run through all levels of rugby and, at the best clubs, it does. The best clubs still teach respect for the referee right from the word go - and that includes supporting coaches when they tell parents to keep quiet. Sadly some clubs do not respect the RFU’s approach to coaching youngsters and I have been to some who actively coach 7 year olds to cheat. Rugby needs to protect these standards - it makes the game what it is.

[@ericnielsen-wf9wh]

I mean, you cheat until the ref calls you on it. Crooked feeds, off feet in the ruck.... whatever you can get away with. When he calls you on it, take your lesson like a good player and adjust your game.

[@robhughes645]

Agree to a point. The issue in rugby for me is the almost total immunity that refs get. I stopped taking my son to rugby because every game ended up in a ref making some strange call and then the entire group of players and spectators just shrugging it off. Having to explain that if you're the ref you call the shots, even when you're wrong, flows against everything I try to teach him about being honest and honourable. The reffing standard is really high in rugby but the idea that it's perfect is so far from the truth. How many high level games has Wayne Barnes ruined yet no one can be critical of him. There is a lot to learn in rugby but it not from the players, the refs need to be more accountable when they get it wrong.

[@skparkes1969]

@@robhughes645 I agree with you on the accountability point. The best referees can and do admit they got things wrong and do apologise. When refereeing children it is a little harder - not because referees aren’t accountable but because, especially with the youngest age groups, the referees are coaching as well as refereeing. They will also have talked to the opposition coach and will almost certainly not be strictly enforcing the rules. I used to explain that to the children and the parents before each match - most understood that we were interested in developing the children and enabling them to enjoy the game.

[@nirfz]

​ @ericnielsen-wf9wh: That's the exact attitude that ruined football and most other team sports for me. I hate that from the bottom of my heart. In engineering school (age 14-19) we played football in PE all the time and we had some classmates who played in actual clubs for years. (My parents would not have been able to afford that) And some of them had the attitude you mentioned and tried that during our PE lessons with their classmates. Like kicking you into the backside or the side of your knee when the ref/teacher doesn't look, or into the heel, nonchalently punching you into the nuts when the ref looks the other way, camouflaging it as just swinging the hands when starting to run, stepping on your toes when you want to move... I told the one who did that to me, that if he ever does that again and plays unfair, that he will loose his teeth and end up in hospital. (I was never in a fight, and he was aware of that, but he knew that i absolutely meant it the way i said it) And i wasn't wispering so the other club players heard it too. He and the other club players played fair for the rest of the time we played in school after that. (They will probably still have that bad attitude playing for their clubs as they got taught it by their coaches, but at least in school they knew to behave properly) I don't want that conversation to be a thing or to need to be a thing in sports that claim to teach children and people about fairness and sportsmanship.

[@father_flair]

I've always thought they should start refereeing football like this. Yellow cards for complaining, red ones for shoving etc. It would be carnage for two weeks, and then it would be a different game. What I also like is icehockey's rule of fining players retroactively for dives.

[@hb1338]

In rugby league, refs can place an incident on report, so that it can be properly investigated. This avoids the problem of changing referees' decisions or sanctions retroactively.

[@sisamusudroka3000]

​@@hb1338lol a report in FIFA is as much use as toilet paper😂

[@nirfz]

While i agree, the problem with Fifa is way deeper rooted i think. I try to avoid watching football as i get annoyed by the bad habits players and referees show there. But from the little i have watched in recent years it is the only sports where the video check (or however it is called) gets messed up in ways where they would lynchmob the video ref in other sports. The video checks work in Rubgy, American football, Icehockey, basketball i think... just in Football they aren't able to use it properly and decide things wrongly even though the whole stadium and viewers at home looking at the same picture can see that the decision is wrong. (not always of course, but with the little i watch it is unlikely that i only get to see the failures and the rest of the time i don't watch to do great.) Sometimes i get the feeling that they want to cheat from the topend of the organization.

[@father_flair]

@@nirfz, interesting perspective. I don't watch enough sports to judge whether there are more video refereeing errors in football than other sports. What seems to me to complicate the matter is that football rules aren't precise enough for video assistance, or there is no leeway for technical inaccuracies. Two examples: in tennis, hawkeye is god. If it shows a ball to be on the line by a tiny sliver, it's considered to be in even if it's within the technical margin of error. In cricket, on the other hand, “umpire's call" is used for tight situations where the technology does not allow for a 100% accurate decision. In the case of Leg Before Wicket, for instance, the margin of error is half a ball's width. If a decision is that tight, the decision of the onfield ref remains standing. Football needs to make its rules more precise along these lines. Otherwise there will forever be discussions whether an offside call should be overturned because of someone's toe.

[@nirfz]

@@father_flair I would think the rules are precise enough in football, but some rules are bad. ->What counts is the decision of the main ref. No matter what the video showed. This is a rule that's caused problems even before the video ref became a thing: Years ago Bayerns Munich scored a goal in a german league match even though the ball was not inside the goal but hit the outside sidenet. Even after being told and shown by the present TV people on the video wall, he kept the score as it was. As far as i remember this had 0 consequences for the ref.

[@iluvtacos1231]

"I don't think we've met before, but I'm the referee on this field, not you." GodDAYUM.

[@CubeInspector]

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain

[@iluvtacos1231]

@@CubeInspector Well GodDAYUM mister, I sure do apologize. You do realize God is his title, not his name? And that most people in the world don't share your religious beliefs, right?

[@bennybooboo6789]

​@CubeInspector which god?

[@caiotefu9856]

I love the way Nigel acts like a proper West Wales old school teacher that's dealing with a bunch of sprogs. No nonsense lol!

[@Gerbera726]

I love it. If you're acting like a misbehaving child, then you should be disciplined like a child. Wish we had refs like him in football, and the FA and players respected the refs/rules.

[@caiotefu9856]

@@Gerbera726 indeed

[@rowanvincent5762]

'Speak to me tidy and I'll listen all day' absolute class

[@JonD00]

I've been a football fan for most of my life and I've always wanted the referees to have their mics on the broadcast. It would help hold referees in the premier league accountable for their decisions and help the audience understand what is going on. I've never watched Rugby before but I like the way the referees handle the issues on the field!

[@r0manovic]

And more importantly, players can be publicly held accountable for their often despicable behaviour towards the ref

[@JonD00]

@@r0manovic Yes!! I didn't even think of that!

[@nicks.3393]

I entirely agree, but unfortunately it's never going to happen until a fundamental rectification of attitude of ALL players at ALL levels occurs, to reinstate respect of officials, as one can clearly see exemplified here in rugby.

[@sulvation17]

People always think rugby is a barbaric sport but from what i remember as a player, you're taught early on that you respect the ref at all times, even if you think he made a terrible decision. I'll always love the respect rugby players have for their refs.

[@ytv2779]

Ive only ever watched like one rugby game televised ever, but i loved the idea of a mic'd up referee who was able to keep all these tough guys in line by simply being polite and direct. Lot of respect for those guys as they appear as though they can handle themselves too!

[@patrickmccutcheon9361]

‘Please do not scream. That is unacceptable.’ What a pity Christian Ronaldo has never hears these words.

[@surfclimbcycle]

4:55 "this is not soccer" lol classic!

[@heuhen]

my favorite was "the soccer-field is 500 yard that way!"

[@lexas1]

Imagine the chaos if we had soccer refs.

[@davet6079]

Imagine if soccer refs were shown the same level of respect that rugby refs get?

[@patrickmccutcheon9361]

@@davet6079 I might watch soccer in that case. The soccer authorities have obviously decided that histrionics and abusing referees is simply part of the game and there is no sanction for bringing the game into disrepute.

[@finnanderson5314]

Football

[@theofarmmanager267]

@@davet6079 imagine if rugby refs did soccer matches. For a good few games, they would end up as 5-a-side

[@Doug791]

​@@theofarmmanager267 This might be the best idea I've heard in a while.

[@OriginalPuro]

"You come and ask for a yellow card (for an opposing player), you get one." That's a referee. Damn, that's fucking awesome. I really like how much the referee is involved with the game, telling people to come talk about something, tell them when it's not up to par and so on. I like it a lot. More of this in other sport, thank you.

[@xXN0SK1LLZXx]

Love how most of these start with “speak to me like that again”

[@nickwargent2267]

And, even better, if the DO speak to him like that again, it's a penalty or a card.

[@positivelynegative420]

This is exactly the way the refs used to talk to us playing mini rugby! Actually great to see pros being held to such standards

[@dianepatching742]

Absolutely priceless reaction from the rugby players. If only that would happen in football.

[@65lars]

I'm new to rugby (watching) and I love it because of the action and clean tackles and the referees way of handling the situations Tired of all the sissies in football and the weak rules, not trying to clean football again - Football are all about big cars / most tattoos and funny haircuts

[@damonbrearley3202]

I don't know why but that was the most satisfying 8 minutes of KZbin I've ever seen. Never even played the sport.

[@obsidiandwarf]

Nigel 'Mr. Rugby' Owens... love him.

[@cathywilson3146]

Magnificent. Respect at every turn or otherwise you’re penalised - all games should be reffed or umpired to such exacting standards.

[@Oscarspoem]

Honestly, it is brilliant to watch, listening to people in command of the pitch.

[@garthbuck4274]

Nigel Owens...how can you argue with him..."is that clear". Brilliant

[@DunkdaHunk]

Someone had the balls to accuse a rugby referee of cheating. That's a guaranteed red.

[@CDB8939]

He was actually calling his opposite number on the Leicester side a cheat for cynical work in the scrum, however Wayne took it that it was himself being called a cheat.

[@umphreak9999]

​@CDB8939 the replay shows he was looking at the ref when he said it. If he meant it for the other player, get in his grill and say what you want to say away from the ref

[@spaceman6215]

the moment he raised his voice to Christopher, Christopher knew saying sorry sir and leaving was his best option.

[@gabrielfestini]

What I love is that rugby respect goes both ways with the referee. 7:16 is a great example :)

[@jonnyb2020]

Nigel Owens is actually a top top referee, would love to see this in football 👌🏻

[@Iainsane]

Nigel Owens is still the GOAT of Rugby reffing. He may be retired but nobody has come close to filling his shoes.

[@FREE_SKAPA9]

nigel owens is the goat

[@jaguarpaw5639]

Awesome to see this in sport. My kid plays football and the disrespect starts really young and nothing gets done about it. 11 year old pip squeaks abusing the ref. I’ve even had them giving me abuse whilst running the line. I hate the disrespect in football but it’s seen as part of the game sadly.

[@Jaiykk]

The thing I like the most is the referee has the ability to penalise for actions that are "outside of the sport" like swearing, rudeness etc.

[@mattj9197]

I’m a football fan but I loved the “this is not soccer” quote. Brilliant

[@nicks.3393]

I'm too old and broken to play rugby anymore, but I play hockey and umpire, and I've often used the "this isn't football/we're not footballers" line...usually goes down well even if admonishing a misdemeanour 😁

[@THEEblindman]

The premier league needs these types of referee's "I'm the referee, don't tell me how to do my job" " call for a yellow card, and you'll get one" " If you scream at me, i'll send you off"

[@qxqp]

They do talk like this, you just don't hear it because they don't have mics

[@THEEblindman]

@@qxqp Must all be talk because you dont see much follow through, otherwise players wouldnt behave the way they do

[@grantmcinnes1176]

They're not like this because the league doesn't want them to be like this. And the league doesn't want it because $$$

[@AntalopeAUT]

When the referee is even meaner than all these big guys

[@piervisser3121]

These are the referees we need in football too (or soccer depending where you are from). But more to the topic, great refereeing there and also great to see that they're also met with respect from the players.

[@Exxag]

I love the mix of sass, seriousness and respect that Rugby referees have

[@garygemmell3488]

I know a little about rugby rules. But I definitely know about Nigel. The man is a gentleman and has the perfect combination of sternness, fairness, and understanding to be a great official in any sport he might have chosen to officiate.

[@belis35]

“Don’t give me those puppy dog eyes!”😂😂😂

[@frederichiebler4690]

"This is not soccer, is that clear?" Love it 😆

[@iainarthur7713]

fav is still Wayne Barnes "you come asking for a yellow, you get one"

[@BigAidsIII]

Damn straight. Nonu is a grub

[@funlovingvoyeur]

first clip - Nigel Owens coaching two teams at once. The guy was a treasure, which other sports were reffed like rugby.

[@mattfuller7313]

Oh my God, please let these guys take over the soccer World Cup. All games would end up being 3 on 3 by half time!!

[@tewaewae]

only once and then they would play like men instead of spoilt tossers and the games would be twice as good

[@WRCSeb]

6:29 “the football stadium is 500 yards that way” 😂

[@Heiteinah]

"May I have a word sir?" " Of course you can." Hey, these are the words that can take you far in life.

[@RobbieNero]

4:35 the irony of the ref shirt having a specsavers sponsership is just brilliant

[@stefanbrouwer459]

I dont understand this game, but its such a refreshing sight to see a match where the players are so respectful to the officials and there is tons of more discipline in their little toe then any football player has in their whole body

[@seangotts6470]

this is the kind of ref thats needed in football any kind of bullshit from a player yellow card ... or free kick

[@noooname2568]

It’s videos like this that have recently got me into watching rugby. Can’t say I know loads about the sport but I’m enjoying learning and watching the matches.

[@Twndra12]

I love when refs do the matter of fact play by play. It shows they know their stuff and that they cab see everything. Shuts down player criticism.

[@yasserwallaby5835]

0:57 "don't give me those puppy dog eyes!". 😂

[@BLACNWYTE]

I love the fact we can hear what they’re saying and they seem to get so much respect in return from the players. We need this transferred into the football premier league please.

[@gaudd]

My son questioned the ref once during a game and was called over by the coach and given a huge bollocking. When he tried to protest about the fairness of the decision he was told in no uncertain terms that it didn't matter the ref had made the call and if he questioned him again he'd be in trouble. My son had won player of the year for the team 3 years in a row but it idn't matter, if he couldn't learn discipline they'd do without. He didn't question the ref again.

[@HotForgeChaos]

Every one of Nigel Owens' matches is a masterclass in refereeing, but its easy to forget Walshy was a top tier ref in his day

[@andyt2k]

Should be titled "Owens and occasional other refs" lol

[@anandhblue]

Brilliant. Football and cricket needs officials like them.

[@roybatty-]

Meanwhile NBA referees: "Please forgive me King James."

[@deval97]

Imo this is what makes rugby the better sport over soccer. I'm a soccer player and I used to watch a lot of soccer but ever since I got into rugby I just can't watch it anymore. I've been spoilt by rugby. Now if I try I just get annoyed at how poorly the refs are treated and how little power they have

[@larslosh5598]

Sounds to me like sport isnt really your thing. And there is nothing wrong with that.

[@Nat-oj2uc]

Who cares what you watch? Rugby refereeing is full of shit

[@inBODwetrust13]

So you're annoyed by football because the referees aren't able to flaunt their match fixing?

[@jaytelfer3984]

With the standard of refereeing in football (especially in the Premier League) being so disappointingly low, I really respect and admire rugby referees. Rugby players know that they can't whinge and disrespect referees, and while they (the referees) do get it wrong sometimes, you don't get as many absurd decisions as you do in football.

[@kgunitkeese17]

We need refs like him in every sport. Calls the game fairly and doesn’t take sides. He reminds me of Pierluigi Collina.

[@bix64000]

The football field is 500 yards away 😂😂

[@nort6300]

Ive always found it incredible..these HUGE blokes charging at each other anger in their eyes..yet for the most part they totally understand/respect the ref. I know theres the odd tantrum n stuff but for the most part they dont go for him. Compared to football who dive at the first sign they can get away with it, pretend theyve hurt themselves and the closest they get to fighting is getting so close to each other they either nearly kiss or push each other and get all mouthy with the referee... Incredible contrast.

[@reeveshanara2799]

Damn he awarded the first red card in a premiership final and a World Cup final

[@fazertace6837]

Christopher!😂😂😂

[@ChrisHopkinsBass]

Barnesy and Nigel - the podcast that I want so badly

[@kalewintermute28]

Bring this to football asap. It raises the mentality of the players from children to adults.

[@nickcastings1568]

And would make watching the game a lot more enjoyable.

[@mehitabel1290]

Nailed it!

[@hej221]

''If I hear you shouting for anything again I'm going to be penalising you, this is not soccer'' legend.

[@Pwecko]

Aside from the much better referees in rugby union than in football, the clock in rugby is much better too. When there is an injury or other stoppage, the ref calls time off. In football, the referee decides how much time is left, and this often looks like weakness or cheating. When Alex Ferguson was manager, Manchester United often got extra minutes - Fergie time - at the end of a game, which gave them time to score an extra goal if they were behind or drawing. The same has happened in recent years with Liverpool. It would be much better to follow what rugby does. It would stop referees from being intimidated and end all accusations of cheating.

[@nphil93992]

You could also say the same for the VAR /TMO, Rugby has had the TMO for years and it just works, why football had to invent a much inferior system is beyond me

[@father_flair]

Or just stop the clock entirely when the ball isn't in play like icehockey. Studies have shown that there is only about 60 minutes of actual play in football as it is.

[@mattylamb9194]

@@nphil93992 i've seen bad decisions made after going to the video review in rugby. It's not perfect there either

[@andymartin]

They’ve always said. Hooligans game played by gentlemen. The respect shown to the refs is brilliant

[@gavinratima]

Although he is retired I still consider Nigel Owens to be the best Referee in the Game

[@valeriebilquey9691]

4:57 "This is not soccer." I love this referee. 😍

[@soullimbo]

"This is not Soccer" , absolutely brilliant !!! (From a soccer fan)

[@fancyhat6505]

It was the "IM STRAIGHTER THAN THAT THROW!" That got me on the floor laughing when i first heard it live 😂

[@patchmc4570]

Union and league refs are incredible, it’s amazing how involved they are in controlling the pace and flow of the game. No other sport requires a ref like these two codes.

[@cirkelshorts]

i love when a player moves away from the talk early and the captain just slaps them or if they interrupt the ref they tel them to shut up, its amazing

[@reportaccounthcc2463]

Half the players throwing a strop at the ref for not getting their own way are English front rowers 🤣

[@HedonDitit]

3:16 Big respect to my boy keeping no.3 in check making sure he does not walk away and listens to the ref when he is addressing him. That would've gotten him sent off

[@tacooobelll5899]

love how the referees are respected in this sport

[@samwilson3]

Respect is 2 ways. I'm a massive football fan, not very into Rugby, but the way the Rugby players and referees speak to each other openly is very impressive. Unfortunately in football you have players that speak badly to the refs BUT ALSO refs who have absolutely no time for the players and would never explain decisions articulately in the same way the Rugby refs do. Mic up the football refs and give them some elocution lessons and things would change very quickly.

[@kierandobbs7694]

"Christopher" 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@fossilmatic]

Love it. Let the Police, teachers, ushers, and anyone else tasked with managing hotheads and egotists do the same!

[@harveyg3958]

Nigel Owens ...best referee EVER IN THE WORLD .... and welsh to boot

[@leightarentaal2123]

The football stadium is 500 yards that way 🤣🤣

[@inBODwetrust13]

And it's full of supporters with players earning significantly more without developing early onset dementia as a result of piss poor referees allowing repeated cheapshots to the head go unpunished

[@mac_tire_aonair]

"This is not Soccer" LEGEND!!!

[@65thaggressor54]

Fantastic rugby referees, can you imagine football players if they were spoken to like this. They would fall to the ground in a tantrum.

[@rokhnroll]

This respect for the referee was the same when I played field hockey and Rugby at school, you start appealing for fouls etc it automatically went against you no questions keep doing it and your off.