Nigel Owens: Born Into Rugby | Short Film

Nigel tells us about the time he made a fool out of himself in front of his entire school, the time he sin binned a ball boy in Dublin, and his favourite RWC moments as a match official and as a fan.
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'Men In The Middle'
Episode 2: Nigel Owens
'Men In The Middle' is our 4-part docuseries, in partnership with Emirates, about the best referees in the world of rugby. From their own perspective, they show us their story, their proudest RWC moments as refs and as fans, and why they believe rugby is the greatest sport in the world.
More episodes: • Men In The Middle | Ru...
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VIDEO DIRECTOR / EDITOR: Oisín Deignan
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Jack Morley, Cara Doyle
INTERVIEWER: James Wynne
FIRST AD: Sayaka Ikeda
CAMERA OP: Takumi Imai
OPENING TITLES: Jack Morley, Oisín Deignan
Created by The Sports Chronicle in Dublin, Ireland.
Interviews shot on location in Shirahama, Japan.
Match footage officially provided by IMG Replay, RTÉ, and Pro14.
SPECIAL THANKS
Nobuyuki Kitahara
Nanki-Shirahama Marriott Hotel
World Rugby
Tracy O’Callaghan
IRFU
Engage Digital Partners
A Packed.House production © 2019
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THE SPORTS CHRONICLE
Website www.TheSportsC...
KZbin / @thesportschronicle
Instagram / sportschronicle
Twitter / sportschronicle
Facebook / tschronicle
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Watch next: "A Cautionary Tale' by Noel Considine"
• 'A Cautionary Tale' by... -~-
#MenInTheMiddle #DocumentaryFilm #rugby

[@fantabaz1]

Absolutely love Nigel. Best referee hands down.

[@cjmac3636]

hugely missed Nigel best ref by far! Thanks for great memories Love from NI

[@deeplearning7097]

That music is an absolute horror, especially when you've got the great Nigel Owens to listen to.

[@pipellis6672]

Nigel...you are FAR more than you claim. Probably the best ref ever...

[@sas2300]

Need more referees like him in all sports, well versed, fair, sensible and makes sure everyone is always focussed on just getting on with the game without any nonsense.

[@saladdays9142]

P P PPPP Poppy p

[@terryallen5328]

Rugby refs are what make rugby such a great sport to watch, the respect between the refs and the players is second to none. Nigel is certainly at the top of the tree when it comes to refereeing and his humour on the pitch is legendary.

[@laidsgpr63]

I've always liked Nigel. He is a first class ref. You are a great guy and a good man Nigel ! No matter who's playing, I enjoy any match where Nigel is ref. Keep going Nigel !!

[@bradshawbradshaw8891]

In addition to being a top class ref, Nigel is a bloody nice bloke[despite being Welsh :-) ]

[@GeoffreyHellington]

lmao cya later union

[@rocky3268]

Never forget about watching Somewhere there was a Charity Rugby match, Organiser phoned him up and said How much would it be for him to Referee the Game, Nigel said Don't be daft mun, What Time do you want me there 💯, Nigel Owens is Not only the best Referee in the World, but a Real down to earth, Genuinely Top fella, iechyd da Nige 👌🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿💯✌🏻

[@alcoyne3333333333333]

Respect

[@jurtimmermans1486]

I love that man That is What rugby is all about

[@petertown9467]

the best referee ever to step on the pitch. Well done Sir you are a star happy retirement.

[@paulfitz6614]

I love him calling out the dive haha

[@reality8481]

Class man,class ref.

[@christophe8723]

Nigel you made the sport proud, you can take that, enjoy your retirement despite the fact I would have enjoyed seeing you in the middle more.

[@paulcookies]

Nigel, you are a wonderful guy.

[@nashvillain171]

Excellent video, but the background music is too loud and distracting.

[@kobusdutoitbosman6240]

He’s a natural this N.O. Just one of a kind Greatest asset to the Game of RF imaginable…‼️ 👊🔥 🥂 🪖

[@kobusdutoitbosman6240]

Entirely in his own class of magnificense…👊🔥🥂 🪖

[@kobusdutoitbosman6240]

What a brilliant Man and Sports Official ~ the greatest of his Time, without a shadow of a doubt…‼️🥂 👊🔥 🪖

[@peterclark4685]

Correct me at your will but a Rugby referee has to be one of the hardest, most complex tasks going around. Think of what the job entails. Managing 30+ testosterone-charged, cortisol-reduced, partially-dehydrated alphas playing a game at pace with voluminous arcane and interconnected Laws: in front of the world's largest collection of one-eyed, variously inebriated, sub-alpha-in-denial level ex-players of the game whose range of emotions run the entire gamut between *dark justice* and *murderous revenge.* There are not that many who can do this.

[@Cymysgu]

I'd actually say it's far easier to be a rugby referee than it is to be a football referee. As a kid, you have "respect the officials" drilled into you, and if you were to watch a rugby game that law is always upheld. However, look at the way that football players treat officials... Running up to them in groups, screaming in their faces and show barely a smidge of respect. Football could do with some rugby referees, however, I fear that there'd only be 8 players left per side by the end of the game.

[@peterclark4685]

@@Cymysgu All a soccer ref needs is adequate insect repellent, on the pressure points, just as perfume is applied. As you say, Rugby level refereeing would improve any sport. The 8 on 7 games would be only for a short while: till buccal zippers were fashionable. IOW repopulate the game with men and not boys. Background: I wanted to learn the anthems off pat before the third last 5 Nations, so I trawled KZbin. Then I found Amy ??? doing 'Flower of Scotland' for a soccer game. During the pan by the camera the players in dark blue were staring down the lens (at the viewers) and you could see the arrogance. They had no interest in singing, or standing to attention, or celebrating being a Scot with the crowd; no, all they wanted was that "It's me laddie, up here, getting the attention, not sad little you, watching it on the telly" vibe. It spoiled what I personally regard as one of the top three great anthems.

[@Cymysgu]

@@peterclark4685 sorry for the late response, I've only just been notified of your comment. I recommend watching more recent renditions of Flower of Scotland as for me it's the 2nd best after Mae Hen Wald Fy Nhadau by us Welsh; if you want to see players sharing the passion with fans take note of the 2013 rendition.

[@stevenmcalister826]

You could’ve added “partially hydrogenated vegetable shortening” to that paragraph and I’d say half of the people who read this wouldn’t notice. Which tells me it’s a load of guff.

[@richardwanigasekera4212]

Concise summing up of a very physical sport...with total control in one person's hand. Mutual respect is paramount Football will never achieve that standard...keep on dreaming.. Footballers, please tune into the Woman's Six nations, I promise, you will learn a lot more than rolling on the ground... Women Footballers, please teach the other sex how football should be played

[@SilverBicycle]

Editor...you need to bring down the music bed a notch while he's talking.

[@zedcarr6128]

I totally agree. The music is too loud, and it's getting in the way.

[@edemoi3817]

Rugby forevet.💪🥰

[@whtmasterd]

Background music spoils the whole thing.

[@TheSean7564]

Good man it seems. All around

[@lovenilsson9681]

Wish I could watch this, but the music makes this video unwatchable☹

[@shill700]

Cut out the music - spoils it..