"Nightmare" - Nigel Owens reveals worst players he’s ever dealt with

During an extraordinary international career spanning from 2003 to 2020, the Welsh official spent 17 years refereeing at the very top level of the sport. His CV includes countless Champions Cup and PRO14 fixtures, as well as the ultimate honour – taking charge of the 2015 Rugby World Cup final.

But while Owens shared the field with rugby’s biggest names, not every encounter was a pleasant one. Some players, famous for riding referees and pushing boundaries, made his job far harder than it needed to be.

Since hanging up the whistle, Owens has revealed the players who gave him the most grief. Here are his top five.

Former England and Leicester Tigers star Austin Healey was a brilliant rugby brain – but also one of the mouthiest players Owens ever refereed.

“Definitely Healey,” Owens said. “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 to 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.”

Healey’s constant chatter and willingness to challenge decisions made him a regular headache for officials.

Dan Biggar’s competitiveness has defined his career for Wales and the British & Irish Lions – but that same fire often spilled over.

“Oh god yes, Biggar can be a tricky customer,” Owens admitted. “He’s so focused and so passionate no matter the game or occasion. We’ve had a few run-ins down the years.

“It was always respectful though, and we’d always have a drink and a laugh after the game.”

Biggar lived permanently on the emotional edge – something referees had to manage carefully.

Former Ospreys and Wales scrum-half Martin Roberts never stopped talking during matches – something Owens remembers well.

“He’s actually refereeing now,” Owens joked. “But he was always in my ear all game when he was a player. He certainly thought he knew the laws then.”

Roberts’ move into refereeing perhaps comes as no surprise.

England lock Maro Itoje is one of the game’s most influential forwards – and one of its most challenging to referee.

“Itoje plays right on the edge,” Owens said. “That’s what makes him such a great player. He must be horrible to play against – but he’s also difficult to referee, and I mean that with respect.

“You don’t want him to change, but he has to choose when to gamble and when not to.”

Itoje’s relentless energy and physicality regularly test the limits of the law.

Refereeing either Peter Stringer or Ronan O’Gara was tough. Refereeing both together? Even worse.

“Definitely – ROG and Stringer,” Owens laughed. “When you had to referee the two of them together… I always got on well with them and respected them hugely, but they made my days hard on occasions.

“They were lippy – but in a respectful way.”

With two of rugby’s sharpest minds working in tandem, referees were constantly under pressure.