Former international referee Nigel Owens has revealed the five most challenging players he encountered in his career.
#1. Joe Marler (England)
Owens said: "He was always a funny one on the field in nice way. You'd be trying to tell him something serious and he'd just want to have a laugh and a joke. He'd wink at you on the middle of a serious telling off."
Joe Marler of England celebrates after winning during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
#2. Peter Stringer & Ronan O'Gara
Owens said: “Definitely! ROG and (Peter) Stringer, oh, when you had to referee the two of them together. You had your work cut out.
"I always got on well with the both of them though. I have a huge amount of respect for them, but they made my days hard on occasions. They were lippy in a respectful way.”
#3. Dan Biggar (Wales)
Owens said: "Oh god yes, Biggar can be a tricky customer on the field.
"He's so focused and so passionate about what he's doing no matter the game or occasion, we've had a few run ins on the pitch down the years.
"I mean, it's always been in a respectful way and we always have a drink and a laugh after the game."
DID YOU KNOW? Biggar has his own routine before kicking goals, which fans now call "The Biggarena" after
Los Del Rio's 1995 hit,
Macarena.
#4. Mike Brown (England)
OWENS SAID: "A player who pushed himself, but also sometimes the referee, to their limit due to his intensity. A really nice guy away from the field."
DID YOU KNOW? He has won three
Six Nations Championship titles with England and one
English Premiership title with Harlequins
#5. Austin Healey (England)
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.”
DID YOU KNOW? Healey won 51 England caps and 2 Lions caps. He played for England at
scrum half,
fly-half,
fullback and
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