Will Carling hits out at Austin Healey attack on Nigel Owens

Will Carling hits out at Austin Healey and others for attack on Nigel Owens

Will Carling has sprung to the defence of Nigel Owens over the ‘unnecessary, snide and ever so slightly hypocritical’ comments the Welsh referee has been subjected to in the last 10 days.

The former England skipper took to social media backing a column from Owens , after former England international Austin Healey had questioned whether the celebrity status of the hugely popular Welsh official has made him “too big to referee”.

“Sad to see the criticism of Nigel Owens,” wrote Carling.

“So easy to dig when you forget the torturous path some have had to take. Bravo Nigel.”

He added: “Just thought it was unnecessary, snide and ever so slightly hypocritical.”