FORMER top referee Nigel Owens revealed his worst five footballers to deal with.
Not surprisingly, firebrands Austin Healey and Dan Biggar feature, but there was a shock as England lock Maro Itoje made the naughty list.
Owens became the first rugby union referee to reach 100 tests when he took charge of the Autumn Nations Cup game between France and Italy in Paris in 2020.
Reflecting on his Test career, which began with a game between Portugal and Georgia in 2003, Owens added: “I haven’t refereed in order to reach milestones, but obviously when those milestones happen like when you get your first cap, it is something special.
“When I got my 50th cap out in Dublin it was Brian O’Driscoll’s last international game in Ireland, so that was quite a special occasion, and then obviously as the years go by you aim to go to a Rugby World Cup, then another one.
“After the 2019 World Cup, going into the Six Nations, I probably was looking then to call it a day around that time, and all of a sudden you are on 98 Test matches.
“Thankfully, I got another two games and reached that milestone, so it is something I am proud of. But more importantly, I made my family and community proud, which I think is more important.”
Here are his worst five players to deal with during his time working in international rugby…
5. Austin Healey
Owens said: “Definitely Healey. I only caught him towards the end of his career, thankfully.
“A wonderfully talented player and a very good pundit now, but he always had plenty say and quickly assumed I didn’t like him.
“He’s actually blocked me on Twitter, but I don’t think I’m the only one.”
