"He always knew the line" - Nigel Owens ranks his top 5 captains

Owens said: “I can only speak from my own experience of refereeing him and, when I did, he was an excellent captain to deal with. I have a huge amount of respect for him as a player and a person. He always knew where the line was with me. I would say to him that he could always come and talk to me as long as it was at the right time and in the right tone and he always did that.”

He was the 50th captain of the South Africa national team, and led the team to win the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Owens said: "He led the Springboks to success at the 2007 World Cup in France and against the 2009 Lions and is probably one of the greatest captains I have dealt with. He’s a good man and was a very good player at hooker."

DID YOU KNOW? He played most of his senior career as a hooker, but also won 13 caps as a prop,

During his career, O'Connell captained Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions. He is now the forwards coach for the Ireland national men's team

Owens said: "Quite simply he was just an exceptional leader. I have been in charge of games where he pretty much carried his team, whether it was Munster or Ireland, almost on his back and onto victory.

"Never took a backward step, stood tall and was a man others would follow"

DID YOU KNOW? He initially excelled at swimming and only started playing rugby at the age of 16

He is the world's most-capped Rugby Union player and Wales' most capped international player. 

Owens said: "A man of few words, he does his talking on the field with his actions. Not only is he a brilliant player and a very good captain but I don’t think I have reffed a match where he hasn’t given absolutely everything.

"He’s been playing at lock for 15 years and remains one of the first names on the Wales team-sheet, which says everything about his ability."

DID YOU KNOW? He is one of only four players to have been selected to go on four British and Irish Lions tours, a feat he achieved crossing three different decades

He captained the national team, the All Blacks, in 110 out of his 148 test matches, and won two Rugby World Cups. He has won the World Rugby player of the year award a joint record three times and was the most capped test rugby player of all time from August 2015 to October 2020.

Owens said: "If anybody had to pick the greatest player in history, it would surely be a difficult choice between him and Gareth Edwards.

"How McCaw managed to put his body on the line and sometimes the wrong side at rucks for so many years at flanker is incredible. A terrific leader."

DID YOU KNOW? McCaw was the first All Black to reach 100 caps, and the first rugby union player to win 100 tests