Fri, 30 Oct 2015 Heno

-Hello and welcome to Mynydd Cerrig

-in the Gwendraeth Valley...

-..for a special programme to honour

-the local lad, Nigel Owens.

-Hello and welcome to Mynydd Cerrig,

-the village where Nigel was raised.

-He's refereeing the final

-of the Rugby World Cup tomorrow.

-Everyone is very proud of him...

-..and so is the whole

-of the Gwendraeth Valley.

-The village is already

-decked with colourful banners.

-Nigel can't be with us tonight

-but we have a substitute.

-Do you like him?

-We all like your masks too.

-Tonight, we're joined by many

-of Nigel's friends and family...

-..including his father, Geraint.

-Tonight, we'll hear about Nigel,

-the entertainer...

-..Nigel, the public figure

-and Nigel, the referee.

-Rhodri Davies looks back

-at his successful career.

-My ambition is to referee

-a Rugby World Cup final.

-I'd love to ref a Cup game between

-Llanelli and Neath at Stradey.

-Those were his ambitions

-at the start of the millennium.

-He achieved his second dream

-soon afterwards...

-..and tomorrow,

-his greatest ambition comes true.

-But how did he become a referee

-in the first place?

-His PE teacher and mentor at

-Ysgol Maes Yr Yrfa was John Beynon.

-John passed away before witnessing

-Nigel's greatest achievements...

-..but his influence

-was key to Nigel's success.

-He wasn't my best pupil

-but he did his best.

-I remember a game against Ysgol

-Syr Griffith Jones in St Clears.

-The school hadn't won a single game

-before then.

-They scored at the last minute to

-draw the game with 12 points each.

-The captain told Nigel...

-.."Owens, if you miss the

-conversion, you're walking home!"

-He completely missed

-and was our referee from then on.

-One of his biggest inspirations

-was his PE teacher, John Beynon.

-John told him to start refereeing

-as he wasn't the best of players!

-This was an important step

-in his career.

-The rugby world has benefitted

-from John Beynon's advice to Nigel.

-John spotted Nigel's potential

-to develop as a referee.

-refereeing a Rugby World Cup final.

-Yes, we're all proud of him.

-There's international respect

-for Nigel Owens' refereeing skills.

-But he always gets a hard time when

-he returns home every Christmas.

-The worst games to referee

-are the Scarlets and Ospreys games.

-I've refereed their annual

-Boxing Day derby for eight games.

-The referee is always to blame!

-Both teams are from West Wales and

-you're never a winner at the end.

-Nigel is certainly the winner now...

-..and has overcome challenges bigger

-than the Scarlets v Ospreys games.

-It was a pivotal moment when

-Nigel Owens revealed his sexuality.

-A weight was lifted

-from his shoulders.

-He was able to enjoy his work

-and his new-found freedom.

-He succeeded in the macho world

-of rugby despite his sexuality.

-This speaks volumes about him

-and his status within the game.

-The Mynydd Cerrig lad

-faces the biggest game of his life.

-Do you want to know

-what he'll be doing tonight?

-We have a meal with the linesmen and

-video referees ahead of the games.

-The night before is better

-than the night after a game...

-..because it could have been a tough

-and physical game.

-We all enjoy a sneaky half

-on the night before a game.

-Nigel isn't likely to mess it up

-tomorrow no matter what he drinks!

-To put it simply,

-he's the best in the world.

-He's representing Wales

-and we're all supporting him.

-It'll be a very special day for him.

-He's the best referee in the world.

-He's just the same person

-both on and off the pitch.

-A Rugby World Cup final

-deserves the world's best referee.

-Nigel Owens is that person and

-that's what the players tell you.

-I have to praise him for taking the

-Welsh language across the world.

-He speaks Welsh on the pitch and

-the nation should be proud of him.

-We're all proud of Nigel.

-I'm joined in Mynydd Cerrig

-by Nigel's father, Geraint.

-Thank you for joining me tonight.

-You must be very proud

-of Nigel's success.

-Yes, and I feel very proud.

-The village has done so much for

-him.

-I'm watching the match with my

-friends tomorrow.

-This is the best place to be.

-Family and friends will be here.

-Thank you for coming here tonight.

-Tim Hayes is a rugby referee.

-Nigel is a great referee.

-He's highly-respected on an off the

-pitch.

-Nigel has travelled the world.

-It's important to have someone you

-can trust.

-He's great at boosting your

-confidence.

-I think he might be nervous.

-I wish him all the best.

-I'll watch the game tomorrow at

-home.

-Nigel feels just as comfortable on

-the stage as he does on the field.

-Over the years,

-he's entertained audiences...

-..during Noson Lawen evenings,

-in rugby clubs and on television.

-# And we were singing

-hymns and arias #

-Since he was a young boy,

-Nigel has been a keen performer.

-He's done everything

-from presenting to singing.

-However, me mostly enjoyed

-showcasing his comedy skills.

-I started telling jokes

-after watching Ifan Gruffydd's show.

-Shut your mouth and eat your food!

-How can I shut up

-and eat my food at the same time?

-The first time I heard

-of Nigel Owens was at a concert.

-Dafydd Iwan told me about

-this young boy who impersonated me.

-He impersonated my entire act

-and he was very good.

-He said that it was worth seeing

-this boy, Nigel Owens.

-From a young age, he rehearsed his

-act in front of family and friends.

-Thomas from next door

-has had a vasectomy.

-Don't say! It's not been long

-since he got rid of the Vauxhall!

-I practised

-in front of my parents...

-..and for the school technicians

-and caretakers over a cuppa.

-I knew I was on to a winner

-if they all laughed.

-Are you sisters?

-Yes? Where's Cinderella then?

-The Gwendraeth Valley boy

-became a familiar fixture on S4C.

-I've performed on Noson Lawen

-and on the Jocars programme.

-He answered an advert

-in the Sunday Sport!

-It was great to work with Nigel

-because he would always listen.

-He would take notes

-and was eager to learn.

-The only thing I taught him

-was to be himself.

-I was starting to worry

-that you were going to return her!

-When I started singing, Nigel used

-to compere Noson Lawen evenings.

-There's no telling

-what Nigel would say.

-He would make us laugh

-on the stage and backstage.

-I got to know the young Nigel

-as a Noson Lawen compere.

-When Nigel would compere in the

-Gwendraeth Valley, I was happy...

-..because Nigel was able to warm up

-the audience and get them laughing.

-# Every morning, the day start

-with the dawning of the sun #

-He enjoys being on stage

-and he's great with an audience.

-The audience responds well

-because they simply adore him.

-"How many times a day

-does a bull do its business?"

-"This is a good bull and it will

-do its business eight times a day."

-She turned to her husband

-and asked if he'd heard him.

-"This bull can do its business

-eight times a day!"

-He replied, "Don't forget that

-he gets a fresh one every time too!"

-Mynydd Cerrig's residents remember

-when he started telling jokes.

-Aneirin Karadog is a resident

-of the Gwendraeth Valley.

-It's great to be here.

-I've lived here for a few years.

-I remember frightening him when I

-was filming Y Barf in the area.

-I've also presented a few

-poetry evenings with him.

-Nigel is willing to be part

-of local events.

-This is where his heart lies.

-You're the poet of Radio Cymru.

-You've written some poems to Nigel.

-Let's hear an extract from

-Aneirin's poem in honour of Nigel.

-"A lad from the valley

-is in the field

-"A man, to guide the path of sport

-"A man to tame the muscles

-"On the field, telling it as it is

-"From the rising sounds of the stage

-"Through the darkness,

-the sounds of the chorus

-"He can break it with his whistle

-"Or give a try with a rousing song

-"The man from the valley

-is an unsung hero

-"One man stands on the horizon

-"He's eternally silent

-"The Welsh we see are excellent!"

-Thank you, Aneirin.

-I'll watch the game in a friend's

-house.

-After the break, we hear more from

-the residents of Mynydd Cerrig...

-..as well as some rugby legends.

-First, we have some

-good luck messages for Nigel.

-Good luck, Nige'!

-Nige', good luck tomorrow.

-You deserve it.

-# Good luck, Nigel

-# Good luck, Nigel #

-Congratulations, Nigel. You're

-fully deserving of this opportunity.

-Make sure New Zealand wins.

-Don't forget to blow your whistle

-until everything rattles!

-Don't reprimand Dan Carter

-because I think he fancies me...

-..and it could get

-awkward between us.

-Congratulations, Nigel and I wish

-you all the luck in the world.

-Good luck!

-From the cast of Les Miserables...

-From the cast of Les Miserables...

-

-..Good luck on Saturday, Nigel!

-.

-Subtitles

-Welcome back to a special edition

-of Heno, live from Mynydd Cerrig...

-..the childhood home of Nigel Owens,

-tomorrow's World Cup referee.

-Helen is Nigel's cousin.

-Yes, and it's great to be here.

-This area is very proud of Nigel.

-Hayley made all these Nigels.

-I can't take all the credit.

-We had a factory of doing them.

-Everyone will be here tomorrow.

-We'll be missing one person.

-I hope Nigel has a good reason for

-not being here.

-Nigel is highly-respected

-across the world.

-We've already heard from the

-present generation of players...

-..but former players also agree

-that Nigel is the best in his field.

-Good luck to you on Saturday, Nigel.

-I'm sure it's going to be

-a wonderful game...

-..because they've got

-an excellent referee for once!

-Good luck tomorrow and

-you certainly deserve to be there.

-You're the best referee in the world

-and I'll enjoy looking at it.

-Congratulations on this

-truly deserving achievement.

-You've always had high standards

-so good luck.

-Do as you always do

-and have the respect of the players.

-Tell them what you want them to do

-and hopefully, they'll do that.

-Good luck and enjoy it.

-I'm sure it'll be an important game

-that you'll never forget.

-We're joined by the former

-Wales and Lions star, Delme Thomas.

-Welcome to the programme, Delme.

-A good referee is vital

-during tomorrow's important game.

-Yes, that's right.

-I wish I had a referee like Nigel...

-..when I was playing the game.

-This whole community is behind

-Nigel.

-I was raised in the small village of

-Bancyfelin.

-I can see that we share this

-similarity.

-I feel proud to hear Nigel speaking

-Welsh on the pitch.

-Nigel is highly-respected

-in a number of different fields.

-The Gwendraeth Valley residents

-are extremely proud of Nigel.

-Nigel hasn't forgotten his roots...

-..and proudly wears Mynydd Cerrig

-upon his sleeve, wherever he goes.

-There are so many successful people

-in a variety of fields...

-..but they tend to forget

-about where they've come from.

-You should never forget your roots,

-no matter how successful you are.

-The area is very close to his heart

-and he always talks of Pontyberem.

-He's also put Wales on the map.

-There's nothing better than seeing

-a Welshman from Gwendraeth Valley...

-..refereeing

-the Rugby World Cup final.

-When I visit new countries

-like South Africa...

-..and shake hands

-with the likes of Nelson Mandela...

-..it's unforgettable.

-People are surprised when I say...

-..that I'd love a holiday at home

-in Pontyberem or Mynydd Cerrig.

-Congratulations to Nigel Owens...

-..who's been named the Gay

-Sports Personality of the Year...

-..at a special ceremony in London

-at the end of last week.

-Nigel Owens has made

-a fantastic contribution...

-..to the LGBT community

-in Wales and beyond.

-People think that gay people...

-..tend to work in the film world,

-with airlines or in hairdressers!

-However, that's not true.

-I've been shown lots of respect

-since I came out as gay.

-It's a pleasure to welcome

-a special guest to the studio.

-He's the chairman of the Wales

-Federation of Young Farmers Clubs.

-I can remember Nigel as a member

-of the YFC in the early 1990s.

-He was always competing

-and full of fun.

-We put Nigel's name forward to be

-the Welsh chairman of the movement.

-Nigel was a fantastic chairman

-and would speak to all the members.

-He was very natural in the role and

-completed his duties without a fuss.

-I've been a member of the

-Llanarthne YFC since I was 15.

-The YFC has provided me

-with many opportunities...

-..including competitions in public

-speaking, drama and the Eisteddfod.

-I benefitted greatly

-from these experiences...

-..in the media world

-and on the rugby field.

-When Nigel runs out

-on the field on Saturday...

-..I'm sure Mynydd Cerrig

-will be very close to his heart.

-He will also be thinking

-of his family.

-Gwyn Elfyn spoke on behalf of

-this valley and the whole of Wales.

-Our Friday night's Heno

-usually ends with some music.

-This is Nigel Owens performing

-with the Dowlais Male Choir.

-# Which fuelled

-this fool's devoted love?

-# Where now the sound

-# That left my heart behind you,

-in your wake? #

-Nigel is a man of many talents...

-..but in tomorrow's World Cup final,

-we'll see Nigel, the referee.

-Thank you for coming here tonight.

-Good luck to Nigel from everyone

-here at Heno and everyone in Wales.

-We end tonight's programme

-from Mynydd Cerrig...

-..with the sound of Nigel's

-favourite song by Gwenda Owen.

-# I've been back and forth overseas

-# Despite seeing the world's wonders

-# I can see the age-old truth

-# That there's nowhere

-quite like home #

-Good luck, Nige'!

-Hia, Nige'! Well done to you

-and we're very proud of you.

-Good luck for tomorrow

-and we'll all be cheering you on.

-Come down to the club

-to play some bingo with your father!

-Good luck, cuz.

-We're proud of you so well done.

-What is your refereeing ambition?

-I'd like to referee

-a Rugby World Cup final.

-Good luck, Nigel!

-.