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Tremendous reaction to referee Nigel Owens being gifted special golden whistle ahead of 100th Test
Nigel Owens has been given a golden whistle to blow into when he becomes the first referee to take charge of 100 Test matches on Saturday night in Paris. The veteran official from Wales is set to officiate the Autumn Nations Cup meeting between France and Italy at the Stade de France.
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Owens refereed his first Test match 17 years ago when he was appointed for the clash of Portugal and Georgia in Lisbon in March 2003 and he has come a long way since then, surpassing some years back the previous record of 71 Test games held by retired South African referee Jonathan Kaplan.
He took charge of his 99th international when England beat Georgia at Twickenham on November 14 and his milestone 100th appearance has now been marked by the presentation to him of an inscribed golden whistle marking the occasion in Paris on Saturday.
Prime Video Sport commissioned Acme Whistles to create a commemorative gold whistle and Owens was chuffed with their thought, tweeting: “A massive thanks to Prime Video Sport for these special edition Acme Whistles for my match on Saturday, France vs Italy. I’ll try not to blow it to much. It’s very much appreciated and means a lot.”
Owens’ stellar career enjoyed a 2015 pinnacle when he refereed the World Cup final featuring the All Blacks and Australia, and he comes into Saturday’s game with some interesting career statistics – the showing of 60 yellow cards and seven red in his 17-year stint as a Test game referee.
A massive thanks 🙏 to @primevideosport for these special edition @AcmeW for my match on Saturday @FranceRugby v @Federugby I’ll try not to blow it to much 😂😉. Diolch o galon, it’s very much appreciated and means a lot . pic.twitter.com/EVbs7BbyVw
— Nigel Owens MBE (@Nigelrefowens) November 25, 2020
France and Italy have had mixed luck with Owens in charge of their games, the French winning eleven of 23 matches and the Italians just three in eleven.
His 100th-game milestone has generated great reaction on Twitter with World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont, ex-England captain Will Carling, the Springboks and many more among those praising his unprecedented achievement.
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This weekend, @Nigelrefowens will become the first referee to take charge of 100 international matches.
Even non-rugby fans know Nigel for his wit, honesty and exceptional communication skills.
We're proud that he will pass this milestone in the #AutumnNationsCup. #FRAvITA pic.twitter.com/wJFuMUp9pb
— Autumn Nations Series (@autumnnations) November 27, 2020
A remarkable achievement by a remarable person who epitomises everything great about #rugby.
Nigel Owens resonates with people beyond the rugby environment, giving so much joy, inspiration and support to so many around the world.
Enjoy the big day @Nigelrefowens! pic.twitter.com/9xkdcd26TW
— Sir Bill Beaumont (@BillBeaumont) November 27, 2020
Nigel Owens will ref his 100th test this weekend.
Awesome achievement.
— Paul Williams (@thepaulwilliams) November 27, 2020
History maker @Nigelrefowens set for a record 💯 international matches in charge this weekend in Paris: https://t.co/GYqCgwSN66
Llongyfarchiadau i un o'r dyfarnwyr mwyaf poblogaidd a llwyddiannus erioed 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/QlSJyJ5nBJ
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) November 27, 2020
England V Wales tomorrow, always special. But I just wanted to congratulate a very special Welshman on his achievement tomorrow of being in charge of 100 Test Matches. A quiet outstanding referee and an even greater man. Brilliant achievement @Nigelrefowens – dim ond gwych
— Will Carling (@willcarling) November 27, 2020
Incredible achievement!
Congratulations @Nigelrefowens 👏 https://t.co/Q0eyFNhxzm
— The RPA (@theRPA) November 27, 2020
🏈 @Nigelrefowens – one of our favourite Welshmen – will referee his 100th Test this weekend, a special achievement! Congratulations, Mister Ref!
🔗 https://t.co/76ALtXIMcv@WorldRugby @autumnnations pic.twitter.com/7WVrlgCs4V— Springboks (@Springboks) November 27, 2020
Congratulations and good luck to Mynyddcerrig's finest @Nigelrefowens ahead of his 💯th Test tomorrow 👏
Llongyfarchiadau mawr i Nigel Owens ar ddyfarnu ei 100fed gêm ryngwladol ym Mharis penwythnos yma! 🏴 pic.twitter.com/CdgV4tQfbS
— Scarlets Rugby (@scarlets_rugby) November 27, 2020
What an achievement by @Nigelrefowens who is about to ref his 100th test match this weekend. Was the best Ref that I played or coached under. #communicator 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/BtyY5gGQrY
— Bernard Jackman (@bernardjackman) November 27, 2020
Tributes paid to the late French and Argentinian greats, with a happier note reflection on referee Owens and his big day https://t.co/2i2UA9tvYw
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 26, 2020
ALWAYS respect the referee 🙌
Watch three matches live on #Primevideo this weekend as the #AutumnNationsCup kicks off pic.twitter.com/JanVncow3Y
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) November 10, 2020
Watch this 👉Fun, interesting and poignant in-depth interview with @Nigelrefowens by @seanny202
ahead of Nigel's 100th test match this weekend https://t.co/0joC2VuYW6 #rugby via @worldrugby— dominic rumbles (@dominicrumbles) November 27, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Adding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
2 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
2 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to comments