Nigel Owens considers permanent rugby comeback as referee next season

Wales Online

05-05-2025

Nigel Owens considers permanent rugby comeback as referee next season
Owens retired from referring in 2020 but could now be returning every weekend from next season
Nigel Owens refereed in an anniversary match over the weekend.
(Image: London Welsh RFC )
Nigel Owens is considering a permanent return to rugby.
The legendary referee returned to officiate Lampeter Town RFC v London Welsh in west Wales over the weekend in a 150th anniversary game. Before that, the last time the Welshman refereed was France v Italy in his 100th Test match in autumn 2020.
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Owens spoke to after the game, and detailed his thought process around returning to the game. The final score was 60-24 to London Welsh, with Owens revealing how much he enjoyed his return and his plan going forward. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.
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"I actually refereed a game here when they opened the new clubhouse 10 years ago," Owens said.
"I was always hoping to carry on refereeing the community game, but I've been so busy over the last four years, between everything, I haven't had time to be honest. I may start back next year.
"When they asked, I thought: 'Quiet time of the year', it's great to be back."
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Owens was then asked whether he enjoyed returning after a number of years away from the game.
"It was a bit of a Barbarians game, really, wasn't it! It was very, very enjoyable, a great crowd here as well, and the atmosphere. I enjoyed it. I was quite pleased with myself that I lasted the 80 minutes, actually!"
You can watch the footage below.
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Since he hung up his boots, Owens has worked as a World Rugby expert and as a mentor for the Welsh Rugby Union for new referees coming through the system.
He spends most of his time on his farm in the Gwendraeth Valley tending to his Hereford cattle.
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Speaking in his WalesOnline column last year, Owens spoke about his dream of being a farmer and rugby helped him achieve that.
"Since eight years of age, my goal was to be a farmer," he began. "And I saved up over the years to achieve it, buying a smallholding with my partner Barrie. It had been such a dream for me that when the tournament was over in Japan, I couldn't wait to get back home and start the next chapter of my life.
"I'm so grateful to have had something like that to focus myself on. If I had nothing else to look forward to after finishing refereeing and it had all just ended overnight, I probably would have struggled like a lot of referees have done when their careers have ended.
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"As I say, it's a huge adjustment and in every sport, there are players, coaches and officials who have struggled with their mental health when they retire." Read more here.