Nigel Owens: Y Gorau'n y Byd

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-The Rugby World Cup Final.

-The greatest occasion

-in the rugby calendar.

-A Welshman realises a dream.

-It's also a momentous day

-for another man.

-The man with the whistle...

-..the man in the middle.

-Referee Nigel Owens.

-It feels like yesterday...

-..when I officiated

-in my first World Cup in 2007.

-Time has just flown.

-I was looking forward to the game

-so much.

-I just wanted the day to arrive...

-..but as the days passed, I didn't.

-I realised that after 80 minutes,

-it would all be over.

-The greatest game of his career

-was about to kick off...

-..but Nigel's thoughts were with his

-family and friends in Mynyddcerrig.

-The last thing

-that went through my mind...

-..was thinking about everyone

-in the packed club in Mynyddcerrig.

-When I went through

-a difficult time in my life...

-..the locals were there

-to help me and my family.

-He's reached the pinnacle

-of his refereeing career.

-Recognition of something people in

-the Gwendraeth Valley already knew.

-One of their own

-is the world's best referee.

-In 2005, referee Nigel Owens

-from Mynyddcerrig...

-..won his first international cap.

-For a decade since, combining

-humour and strict control...

-..Nigel has shown

-why he is so highly respected.

-I have asked you.

-Now I'm telling you.

-The next issues will be dealt with

-differently.

-He is popular with supporters

-from around the world.

-During this year's World Cup...

-..Nigel showed

-he was at the top of his game.

-Was that high, Leights?

-Graham, let's have a look

-in case we need to come back.

-It was - 17.

-Yeah, yeah, high.

-Yeah, yeah, high.

-

-Advantage, high tackle.

-He's the best in the world

-and he didn't have one off day...

-..or any controversial incidents

-during the World Cup.

-Everyone thought he did well,

-no-one spoke about him.

-Because of that,

-he lets the game flow more freely.

-He doesn't blow his whistle

-too early.

-Because of that, he's more lenient.

-The games he referees

-are much better.

-When South Africa beat Wales...

-..the only positive in my mind...

-..was knowing Nigel

-would referee the final.

-He's learnt a lot over the years.

-Whenever he referees,

-he has a good game.

-You almost learn more

-when he referees.

-This year's World Cup

-was incident-packed...

-..none more so

-than the all-action World Cup Final.

-Many claimed

-it was the most exciting final...

-..in the competition's history.

-It's the greatest World Cup Final

-of all.

-Having said that, the others

-have been rather disappointing.

-Both finalists

-are always under pressure to win...

-..and I could feel that pressure

-during the first half.

-Both teams were nervous

-for the first half hour.

-All the plaudits

-must go to the players.

-If players don't go out there

-and spread the ball wide...

-..play exciting rugby

-and give 100%...

-..you can't expect a memorable game.

-I'd like to think

-I played a small part in that...

-..letting the game flow and blowing

-the whistle only when I had to.

-Blowing the whistle in a Rugby

-World Cup Final is the easy part.

-The difficult part is knowing

-when not to blow the whistle.

-Thank goodness, with the experience

-I've gained over the years...

-..I've found the balance to do that.

-When you referee a final,

-no matter what the competition...

-..you must have experience

-of refereeing big games.

-That was my 68th cap.

-I don't think anyone has refereed an

-European Cup Final, Pro 12 Final...

-..and a Rugby World Cup Final,

-all within five months.

-Australia almost grabbed victory

-from New Zealand's clutches.

-Fair play to Australia.

-I didn't expect this comeback

-but they're back in the game.

-But the All Blacks were too strong

-for them over 80 minutes.

-Nigel was surprised by the reaction

-of the players in gold...

-..when he blew the final whistle.

-Almost all the Australian players

-shook my hand.

-Pocock came up to me, didn't shake

-my hand but embraced me...

-..and said, "Nigel,

-thanks very much for a great game."

-He'd just lost

-in the World Cup Final...

-..but found the time

-to say this and embrace me.

-Dan Carter came up to me and said,

-"Nigel, thanks very much for that.

-"It's always been a pleasure

-over the years."

-He's the best player in the world.

-He had time to say that

-after winning the World Cup Final.

-The players weren't the only ones

-to appreciate Nigel's performance.

-When I went up

-to collect my medal...

-..they gave me a gold whistle

-in a case.

-On it was engraved

-Rugby World Cup Final and my name.

-It was a nice gesture.

-It was nice receiving the whistle

-and shaking hands with Prince Harry.

-He said, "That looked

-a tough game, did you enjoy it?"

-"I enjoyed it as much as I could."

-"Well done," he replied.

-As I walked away from the stage...

-..I heard the crowd chanting Nigel!

-Nigel, Nigel!

-No-one had left the stadium.

-There were 83,000 supporters

-in the stadium.

-I don't think there were any

-empty seats.

-I looked around

-and heard everyone chanting.

-People asked me if I'd heard

-the crowd chanting my name.

-"I did actually," I said.

-That will stay with me forever.

-Not everyone

-praised Nigel's performance...

-..during a phone call he made

-after the game.

-When I returned to the hotel,

-I phoned the club in Mynyddcerrig.

-I spoke to my father

-and the first thing he said was...

-.."How the hell did you miss

-that forward pass today?"

-I'd just refereed the best

-World Cup Final of all time...

-..and that's the first thing

-Dad said.

-Thankfully, that mistake

-didn't influence the final score...

-..or who won the game.

-If it had, it would have been

-a different Mynyddcerrig...

-..and a different Nigel Owens

-sitting here.

-Away now, Jon, please, off.

-Back.

-Harsh but fair analysis is something

-that runs in the family.

-Nigel is well-known for

-his quick wit over the microphone...

-..during matches he's refereed.

-I don't think we've met before

-but I'm the referee on this field.

-Stick to your job, I'll do mine.

-If I hear you shouting for anything

-again, I will penalise you.

-This is not soccer, is that clear?

-It ends there, is that clear?

-You're adults,

-you'll be treated like it...

-..as long as you behave like it.

-With a few examples

-during the Rugby World Cup too.

-How many times have I refereed you?

-You don't understand me still.

-I'll shout louder.

-Nothing wrong with it.

-Dive like that again and come back

-here in two weeks and play.

-I never go out onto the field

-thinking, "I'll say this today."

-I say it

-because it comes to me naturally.

-I don't think, "Can I say this

-or will I say this?"

-I just say it as it happens.

-I don't realise it

-until I read Twitter...

-..or people tell me,

-"Brilliant what you said today."

-I just referee the game

-and say what comes naturally.

-That's a mistake many referees do.

-They go out onto the field

-to try and be people they're not.

-Just act naturally,

-be yourself on the field.

-OK? You sure?

-What's my name?

-I've had banter on more

-than one occasion with Nige.

-The problem is,

-you can't compete with him.

-There's good banter,

-he's very sharp.

-He's spoken too me

-many times on the field.

-That's the second time. They tackle,

-roll over and don't move.

-If it happens again,

-someone will go.

-That's the second time

-you've done it.

-I always spoke Welsh to him

-on the pitch.

-When we played Cardiff...

-..Cardiff's captain,

-Martyn Williams...

-..hated that we spoke Welsh

-all the time.

-That's one of the good things

-that we shared.

-I remember last season, I told our

-captain that when you meet him...

-.."Dmitri, say 'bore da, sut mae?'"

-I was trying to teach him Welsh.

-He spoke Welsh

-and Nigel was impressed.

-We were trying to get him

-on our side and we won the game.

-Nigel has mastered his use

-of the microphone.

-Today, technology helps referees

-make the correct decision.

-Whilst you're checking

-if there was a knock-on there...

-..I want you to check

-try yes or no here, please.

-It looks on the line to me. Any

-reason why I can't award the try?

-It's a development

-that was crucial for Nigel.

-You can't perform

-in the professional era...

-..and on the international stage...

-..without having technology helping

-you to make the important decisions.

-The game is faster, things happen

-quickly during the game.

-The decision has been made, Nige.

-You can award the try.

-Previously,

-when you made a mistake...

-..you'd watch the game again...

-..and when you heard commentators

-talking about your mistake...

-..it was the first

-you knew about it.

-Today, with the technology,

-there's more pressure on referees.

-If you make a mistake now,

-it's replayed in the stadium.

-The supporters,

-the players and the referee...

-..can see the decision

-and know you've made a mistake.

-That's the greatest difference...

-..with the referees

-at the top of the game.

-If they get it wrong...

-..they must forget it

-and carry on with their game.

-The biggest mistake you can make

-in a rugby match...

-..is if you try

-and rectify that mistake...

-..by making a mistake in favour of

-the other team to even things out.

-If you do that,

-you lose all respect.

-I've seen it happen

-with one referee in Wales.

-He had the potential to go far

-but he made that mistake in a game.

-He made a mistake,

-knew he'd made a mistake...

-..and changed his decisions for the

-rest of the game to even things out.

-He didn't referee many games

-after that and gave up refereeing.

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-Nigel first picked up his whistle

-as a schoolboy...

-..whilst a pupil

-at Ysgol Maes Yr Yrfa.

-Two school teachers,

-John Beynon and James Rees...

-..were responsible for inspiring

-Nigel to become a referee.

-A lot of that thanks goes to you.

-You brought in that poster,

-Your Country Needs You As Referees.

-Without that,

-I wouldn't have become a referee.

-Do you remember what I said - "When

-you referee the World Cup Final...

-"..I want you to send me

-a ticket to the final."

-That's what I said at the time,

-when I brought the poster in.

-I remember you saying that.

-After leaving school, Nigel

-returned to work as a technician...

-..but another former pupil...

-..has different memories

-of Nigel's responsibilities.

-I'm not sure what his official role

-was - he said he was a technician.

-He was a photocopier.

-All he did was photocopy all day.

-He had a room,

-a photocopy machine...

-..and that's where he spent

-his days.

-Nigel had another role

-at the end of the school day.

-He used to referee games

-for the boys.

-Fair play, he's done very well,

-hasn't he?

-He's the world's best referee.

-You wouldn't have thought he'd

-reach those heights 20 years ago.

-Derek Bevan was the only Welshman

-before Nigel...

-..to referee

-the Rugby World Cup Final.

-Derek has been a strong influence

-on Nigel's career.

-Earliest memories of Nigel,

-16-year-old boy, raw...

-..no driving licence.

-Used to catch one, two,

-maybe three buses on a Saturday...

-..to get to the venue

-where he refereed.

-Leaving 10.30am in the morning,

-not getting home until about 8.30pm.

-Dead keen.

-Derek Bevan has played

-a huge part in my career...

-..ever since I started refereeing

-and he came to...

-Well, since he refereed.

-I started refereeing

-and I ran the line.

-I learnt a lot from him, not only

-what he did on the field...

-..but how he behaved and

-conducted himself off the field...

-..before and after the game.

-It's not just about

-the 80 minutes on the field.

-It's about how you behave

-off the field.

-I learnt a lot from him

-at the start, on the highest level.

-When he retired, I took over

-from him on the highest level

-He retired from refereeing

-on the last game of the season.

-I ran the line for him during

-that game, Cardiff versus Llanelli.

-I stepped up at the end

-of that season, to replace him...

-..on what we called the panel.

-Since then,

-he's watched me and coached me.

-He's been my video referee for

-many years, more than anyone else.

-Nige, there is no reason I can give

-you that you cannot award the try.

-There's no reason

-why I can't award the try?

-That means I can award the try.

-I remember Nigel

-officiating his first match.

-The Ospreys were playing

-the Scarlets.

-I'd never heard of Nigel Owen.

-It was clear after his first game...

-..it was a good match,

-the whistle wasn't being blown.

-I remember talking to the coaches

-I had at the time.

-We agreed there was

-something different about him.

-He became one of the first

-full-time referees in Wales.

-We took on three and Nigel

-is the only one of the three...

-..who has survived until today.

-Time out.

-Before the throw was not straight,

-you have to have a hooker.

-You have to have somebody there.

-Go again, same line-out.

-Nigel now travels around the world

-with his work...

-..but his home, Mynyddcerrig,

-is close to his heart.

-Nigel is also close to the hearts

-of the villagers.

-The people of Mynyddcerrig

-have rallied together many times...

-..to help locals during tough times.

-It was nice to see Mynyddcerrig

-united during the good times...

-..to celebrate something.

-After a busy few months,

-Nigel returns to the village...

-..to appreciate the work

-of the community...

-..that celebrated his success.

-You coming in or what? I need

-to go up to sort out the cakes.

-It's an opportunity to reminisce.

-On this patch of grass, I played

-football and rugby when I was a boy.

-There was no tree in the middle

-back then.

-There was a bench

-but it was a wooden bench.

-We played rugby and football here

-at the bottom of the street.

-It was amazing, fair play.

-Nice one.

-Nigel's love for Mynyddcerrig

-is very deep rooted.

-It means a lot to him.

-You can see that.

-Nigel officiates

-all around the world.

-He always wears Mynyddcerrig

-on his sleeve.

-It's always there.

-For the past ten years,

-he has lived in Pontyberem.

-My family are there,

-all my friends are there.

-People have been very supportive

-over the years.

-It's a lovely place to live.

-It's a stronghold of the Welsh

-language and a close-knit community.

-Because I travel so extensively,

-it's nice to come home.

-My holiday every year is coming back

-to Pontyberem, Gwendraeth Valley.

-He had a happy childhood.

-A loving home life.

-It was an old-fashioned upbringing

-in many ways.

-It didn't stop me

-having opportunities...

-..but old-fashioned in terms of what

-my parents listened to on the radio.

-The programmes they watched on TV.

-As an only child,

-Nigel was very close to his mother.

-My mother was a great influence

-on my life.

-Her influence

-made me the person I am today.

-Will they be ready

-for tomorrow night?

-They'll be ready for tomorrow night

-but they're not ready today.

-I'd better take two colours.

-I'd better take two colours.

-

-Yellow and green?

-Six years ago, the family

-was rocked by devastating news.

-She sat my father and I down because

-she had something to tell us.

-I started wondering what was wrong.

-She said she had cancer.

-It had spread to her stomach,

-liver and lungs.

-When you hear that,

-you think the worst.

-I stayed in Mynyddcerrig...

-..for the next three or four days.

-It was as if I'd hit a wall.

-I'd heard about these things

-affecting other people.

-Some of my friends

-had already lost their parents.

-You never think it will affect you.

-We went to the hospital

-to see the specialists.

-With treatment, she could live

-for a year and that's all it was.

-She had treatment and we made

-the most of her final year.

-The last time she left the house...

-..was when I launched my book,

-Hanner Amser, in Pontyberem.

-I didn't know if she could make it

-but she made the effort.

-She was in extreme pain

-but never showed us.

-Mam's made a special effort

-to come here tonight. Thank you.

-She came down that night and that's

-the last time she left the house.

-We spent Christmas together.

-She went to bed on Christmas Day

-and she never came back down.

-She died on January 2nd.

-The community has supported Nigel's

-family steadfastly ever since.

-Mynyddcerrig has pulled together

-to help us both.

-I don't think a day has passed

-when I don't think about my mother.

-When I'm standing for the anthems,

-on the second anthem...

-..traditionally

-the home team anthem...

-..I always look to the sky

-for about 20 seconds or more...

-..to the heaven.

-I looked up there last Saturday

-during the World Cup Final...

-..I looked up for 20 seconds.

-It was as if I could see

-my mother's face looking down on me.

-She would have been very proud

-of where I am in my life.

-That makes you very proud.

-It makes you want to go out onto

-the pitch to do the best you can.

-I didn't want to let my father

-or anyone else down.

-I definitely didn't want

-to let my mother down.

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-Nigel is famous for

-his witty remarks whilst refereeing.

-In his spare time,

-Nigel is somewhat of a comedian too.

-When I referee players

-who speak Welsh...

-..it's natural for me to speak Welsh

-because it's my mother tongue.

-I was refereeing Munster v Sale.

-In the game,

-Dwayne puts the ball in the scrum...

-..and it's crooked...

-..under the feet

-of the second row.

-There are two of us

-Pontyberem lads on the pitch.

-I said, "Dwayne, in the next scrum,

-put the ball down the middle."

-The next scrum comes...

-..and the ball goes under

-the second row's feet again.

-"Dwayne, I'm telling you now...

-"..if you don't put the ball in

-the middle of the scrum next time...

-"..I'll award a free kick

-against you."

-Dwayne said, "Come on, Nige...

-"..you and are the only boys

-from Pontyberem on this field."

-I said, "Listen, Peel, if you don't

-put the ball in the middle...

-"..I'll be the only boy from

-Pontyberem on this bloody field."

-I remember him saying that to me but

-I can't remember what game it was.

-He says

-it was the game in Munster...

-..but I think he's only saying that

-to get a laugh.

-It's part of the scrum-half's job

-to mouth off at the referee!

-For many, Nigel rose to fame...

-..as a co-presenter

-on the TV programme Jonathan.

-After a while, it was time for Nigel

-to reveal important news...

-..to the rest of the team.

-I remember getting a text

-while I was in the car.

-We were filming the series.

-Rowland was sitting beside me.

-I opened the text from Nigel

-and it said something like...

-.."Hiya,

-I've got something to tell you.

-"It's been

-weighing on my mind for years.

-"I've decided

-to tell the world that I'm gay."

-I turned to Rowland and said,

-"Read this. What do you think?"

-He said, "He's pulling your leg."

-I said, "That's odd, he's not

-pulling my leg by saying that."

-I saw him and said,

-"What's going on, then?"

-He said, "I wanted to tell you."

-I didn't believe him because I

-hadn't seen any signs before that.

-He'd been on Bacha Hi O 'Ma on S4C,

-looking for a woman!

-Nigel's in the middle.

-Nigel's from Pontyberem.

-You're a rugby referee.

-Now that the Jonathan team knew

-about Nigel's sexuality...

-..they started thinking of

-the best way to publicly come out.

-I said, "What are you going to do?

-How are you going to do this?"

-"It's going

-to be difficult telling everyone."

-I made a bit of a joke about it.

-I said, "You might as well

-come out on the programme."

-He said, "What do you think?" I

-said, "We'll make a joke out of it.

-"That's the easiest way to do it."

-I said we should make light of it.

-One man who's usually here

-isn't here tonight. Nigel Owens.

-Does anyone know where he is?

-He said he was coming out tonight.

-He said he was coming out tonight.

-

-Coming out?

-# I am what I am... #

-Nobody realized what was going on.

-"What are these clowns doing?"

-But after seeing it, friends said

-to me, "It was genius."

-Looking back...

-..that was probably

-the best way of tackling it.

-The decision to come out

-followed years of worry...

-..and wrestling

-with his true feelings.

-I was scared stiff that

-someone would find out I was gay...

-..and that it'd be really difficult

-to fight against the person...

-..I didn't want to be.

-It made me very depressed.

-I wasn't happy with my appearance...

-..because I was quite a fat child.

-I tried to lose weight the wrong way

-by making myself sick.

-I suffered with bulimia

-for many years.

-I looked ill.

-I was gaunt.

-Then I started taking steroids.

-I was vomiting to lose weight...

-..taking drugs to bulk up and also

-suffering from this depression...

-..caused by not wanting to be

-a gay person.

-It all came to a head

-after months and months...

-..or even years

-of worrying about everything.

-I thought, 'There's nothing else

-I can do but take my own life.'

-That was my only way out.

-I wrote a letter...

-..to my mother and father...

-..early one morning.

-I had a gun in the house because

-I used to go hunting with friends.

-I took some pills

-and a bottle of whisky with me...

-..and off I went.

-I was very lucky.

-It's odd in a way

-because the tablets I took...

-..knocked me out

-and put me in a coma.

-If I hadn't taken those tablets...

-..the way I was feeling at the time,

-I'd have pulled the trigger...

-..and I wouldn't be here today.

-What I took to end my life actually

-saved me, in a very strange way.

-I came round in the hospital

-a few days later...

-..and reflected on what I'd done.

-What I'd put my parents,

-my family and friends through...

-..was worse than anything.

-When you see your parents crying

-in front of you...

-..it hits home.

-My mother said to me, "The next time

-you do something like that...

-"..you'll take

-your father and me with you."

-I thought,

-'Crikey, what have I done?'

-I've been fortunate

-to have another chance.

-It's made me a stronger person.

-I accepted myself...

-..and felt happier

-with the person I'd become.

-I could concentrate on refereeing

-and other things in my life.

-There's a saying

-Derek Bevan told me countless times.

-A happy referee's a good referee.

-The next step was people's response

-when they found out I was gay.

-It was weighing heavily on my mind.

-It still worried me.

-After summer 2005...

-..I decided to come out

-and the rest is history.

-I was able

-to carry on with my life after that.

-Despite the overwhelming support

-he received at the time...

-..and continues to receive...

-..he's had to deal with homophobic

-comments over the years.

-A young man from Cynwyl Elfed

-has apologized...

-..after sending a homophobic

-message to Nigel Owens.

-According to Edryd James,

-a drinking game got out of control.

-Mr James was sternly criticized for

-the tweet and has since apologized.

-He's received nasty comments

-whilst refereeing too.

-One incident happened during

-the England v New Zealand game...

-..in last year's

-Autumn Internationals.

-It's not nice hearing those

-racist and homophobic comments...

-..which were said

-in Twickenham last year.

-The most important thing for me

-at the time...

-I could've just forgotten

-about it...

-..carried on

-and never mentioned it again.

-But the people

-who heard those comments...

-..wrote a letter of complaint.

-It was covered in the press.

-It was important that I stood up and

-said these things aren't acceptable.

-Not for my sake but for others who

-are dealing with similar problems.

-Dealing with their sexuality and

-dealing with homophobic comments.

-It was very important

-that we stamp it out from the game.

-There's no room for it in rugby...

-..and there's no room for it

-in everyday society.

-After homophobic comments were made

-to Nigel Owens in Twickenham...

-..two fans have been banned

-from the stadium for two years.

-They've also been ordered

-to pay 1,000 each...

-..to a charity

-of the Welshman's choice.

-The people who spoke up about it

-that day should be commended.

-They made the difference...

-..in ridding the game and society

-of this hate.

-It's not me or Gareth Thomas who've

-come out in the rugby world...

-..but the people in everyday life...

-..who stand up and say, "Those type

-of comments are unacceptable."

-Fair play, it was dealt with

-by the English Rugby Union.

-They dealt with it very well,

-in my opinion.

-It serves as a lesson to everyone.

-People might think twice

-about making unacceptable comments.

-If anyone says they're not offended

-by it, they're lying.

-It's not nice to hear those things.

-As a referee, you're used to dealing

-with comments hurled at you.

-I don't like it.

-I don't enjoy

-hearing nasty comments. I hate it.

-But I'm able to deal with it.

-When you hear

-the personal attacks...

-..it's very disappointing.

-It's not disappointing

-for me personally...

-..but it's disappointing that

-my father's family have to hear it.

-That's what hurts most.

-I think it's very important...

-..that we don't lose the fun

-in the game - the leg pulling...

-..and the banter

-when you're on the terraces...

-..shouting at the referee

-and supporting your team.

-The humour and the leg pulling

-is a vital part of the game.

-I hope we'll never lose that

-from rugby or society...

-..because, unfortunately,

-in society today...

-..people are afraid

-to say anything...

-..in case it's taken the wrong way.

-The journey he's taken...

-..because he's wrestled

-with being gay...

-..he's been through

-those dark days...

-..he's seen the white light...

-..and come out of it the other end.

-It's also important

-for everyone out there to see...

-..that the rugby world and the

-sporting world accept gay people.

-Whatever they do in their private

-lives doesn't pose a problem.

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-Nigel has received many honours

-off the rugby pitch.

-Another sunny day on the Maes...

-..and new members

-of the Gorsedd are initiated.

-International rugby referee

-Nigel Owens is one of them.

-Nigel Owens of Mynyddcerrig.

-It was undoubtedly

-a very great honour.

-I've never been much

-of an eisteddfod goer.

-I've been to a couple

-of eisteddfodau over the years...

-..to support the cause,

-and I think it's important...

-..because it's a significant part

-of our Welsh heritage.

-The Urdd and National eisteddfodau

-are vital to our nation's future...

-..and our Welsh identity.

-But I'm not someone

-who goes to the eisteddfod...

-..and watches every competition,

-like many people do.

-When I was initiated

-into the Gorsedd of the Bards...

-..it was an unexpected honour.

-Nigel's fulfilled many ambitions

-on the rugby field over the years.

-Now he's slowly approaching

-the end of his career...

-..focus turns to

-the referees of the future...

-..who are hoping

-to follow in his footsteps.

-An academy system

-was set up by Bob Yemen.

-Nigel Whitehouse is continuing

-the work, along with myself.

-I'm part of the coaching team.

-We meet as often as possible

-and I go and watch them referee.

-We give them feedback

-and advise them as best we can.

-When I retire, it's vital...

-..that the conveyor belt of both

-referees and players continues.

-There's no difference.

-Hoping to follow

-in Nigel's footsteps...

-..is TV presenter Owain Gwynedd.

-I'm fortunate to have been

-a member of the academy...

-..for the past five years.

-As a rule,

-refereeing is a lonely job.

-I'm out every Saturday by myself,

-like the rest of us.

-But I can come here

-and meet other referees.

-By doing that, a standard is set.

-Everyone has a goal

-to aim for in terms of fitness.

-I want to reach here

-or he's completed this.

-These sessions are very important

-to us, especially the youngsters.

-If things didn't go well

-on Saturday...

-..we can talk about it and move on.

-Nigel's busy schedule doesn't

-allow him to be here all the time...

-..but he can still help

-the young referees.

-He's very generous with his time.

-More than once he's said,

-"Any problems, pick up the phone."

-I have and he's always

-given his time...

-..to explain things and advise me.

-You know when he gives you advice...

-..that's the best advice you'll have

-from any referee in Wales.

-So many boys

-want to become referees.

-I think Nige has been

-a crucial factor in that.

-Fair play to Nigel, you see him

-refereeing the World Cup Final...

-..and then he'll referee

-a youth match on the Sunday.

-Young players can have

-the world's best referee.

-Four years in a referee's cycle

-is a long time.

-Someone unknown can appear

-on the scene...

-..and accelerate and be given

-a chance in the World Cup.

-They want referees that officiate

-regularly in the World Cup.

-Not just that - experienced referees

-as touch judges, as TMOs.

-It's more than just being

-about one referee.

-We can never mould someone

-in to an international referee.

-If it's not in you to become

-a referee, it's not in you.

-We can't make someone

-into a referee...

-..but for those who have

-the potential to make it...

-..we can help them reach their goal

-a few years earlier...

-..than they would have

-under the old system...

-..going up through the leagues

-and reaching the top after 10 years.

-Now, hopefully they can do that

-within five years.

-Out of every 20 referee

-in a group of able referees...

-..only one or two

-will reach the top.

-After they reach the top, after

-a few seasons or a few games...

-..they'll reach a certain level

-without pushing on...

-..to be good enough

-to referee a World Cup Final.

-I'm the only one who's reached

-the highest level since 2005.

-I was the only Welsh referee in

-the 2007, 2011 and 2015 World Cups.

-It's important if I'm not there

-in 2019...

-..that someone else from Wales

-is there.

-Nigel's career on the pitch...

-..continues to go

-from strength to strength.

-Off the pitch, he finds it difficult

-dealing with aspects of the job.

-The greatest problem

-is the extensive travelling...

-..almost every weekend.

-I'm somewhere

-in Britain or Europe...

-..and for weeks on end,

-I'm in the Southern Hemisphere.

-I sleep away from home, in hotels...

-..and spend a lot of that time

-on my own...

-..for about 150-170 nights a year.

-That's not far off half the year,

-away from home somewhere.

-There's a lot of travelling.

-That takes more out of you

-than the refereeing on the pitch.

-As you get older,

-there's more pressure...

-..to keep up your fitness levels

-as the game gets quicker.

-Almost every game I referee

-is live on TV.

-I've become a familiar face

-to rugby audiences.

-Sometimes, I'm more well-known

-than some of the players...

-..in some places.

-It's a difficult and lonely life...

-..but it comes with the territory.

-The enjoyment comes from being part

-of the game of rugby...

-..a small but important part

-of the game.

-It makes it worthwhile.

-Following the

-Rugby World Cup Final...

-..Nigel didn't travel far

-for his next game...

-..as he refereed a local match

-between Gowerton and Crymych.

-I could have had a weekend off

-but I enjoy refereeing.

-I didn't want to come back

-from the final feeling tired...

-..and I'm still

-a little tired now...

-..because it's been a hard seven

-weeks of travelling, training...

-..and the pressure

-of refereeing the games.

-I didn't want to come home and

-jump on an aeroplane on Thursday...

-..to referee a game on the weekend.

-It was nice to referee a local game.

-That's where we all start out.

-The most important part of the game

-is at grass roots level.

-The game brought different pressures

-for Nigel.

-Gowerton and Crymych will expect

-the same standard of refereeing...

-..as the World Cup Final.

-I have to go there

-and concentrate during the game.

-It'll be a different pressure,

-it won't be as intense.

-I'm worried that I won't have

-a touch judge to help me...

-..I won't have a TMO

-and I'll have to keep the score.

-I think I'll be lost!

-There was no need for Nigel

-to worry...

-..as a friendly and expectant crowd

-welcomed him.

-Nigel managed to keep

-the correct score...

-..with Gowerton winning 28-18.

-He even had his own team of helpers.

-What's next for Nigel in the world

-of international refereeing?

-I'll have some great memories

-from this World Cup.

-I'm looking ahead now.

-If my body allows it, if I'm fit

-enough and I'm refereeing well...

-..I hope to referee in 2019...

-..in the World Cup in Japan.

-After that, I'll hang up my whistle.

-Right now, I'm looking ahead

-to the next four years.

-As Obama once said, four more years.

-I can say it now too.

-It's not a marginal, you've risen

-quite high above the horizontal.

-That is a yellow card offence.

-Off you go, please.

-Nigel has brought warmth and humour

-to the world of refereeing.

-His contribution has been key

-to ensuring that people...

-..whatever their sexual orientation,

-are accepted in the sporting world.

-When I hang up my whistle

-and say that's it...

-..I can sit back and think...

-..how fortunate I was

-to be a part...

-..a small part

-of this very special game.

-# O Lord my God

-Are you left or a righter?

-Nothing wilful or malicious

-but the tackles are down here.

-I don't want to speak to you

-again about it. Back you go.

-Are you OK? Are you sure?

-What's my name?

-Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait, wait, wait.

-With all the penalties and warnings,

-you give me no option.

-# How great Thou art,

-how great Thou art

-Challenge was high.

-Yellow card, off you go.

-# How great Thou art

-# How great Thou art

-# When through the woods

-and forest glades I wander

-# And hear the birds

-sing sweetly in the trees

-# When I look down

-from lofty mountain grandeur

-# And hear the brook

-and feel the gentle breeze... #