Before I start on the content of the book I’ve just got to comment on the quality of it.
It’s been a while since I held a book that was so aesthetically pleasing, and made of such good quality materials.
The paper quality is really nice, the text is printed in a lovely format, and the two sections of pictures are plentiful and have quality images.
I don’t think I’d realised how badly presented books have become until I picked up this quality product.
So what about the content.
I’ve been a fan of Nigel Owens for years, since well before his one liners and comeback responses started to go viral.
This is a second autobiography by Nigel, Halftime being the first. This book pretty much starts at the darkest time in his life. It’s no secret that he had attempted suicide, and that he’d been very nearly successful. In this book he lays out how he got to that point.
He also details the struggles he had with coming out. Announcing to the world that you are gay can be tough at any time, but within the world of professional sport, particularly one seen to be so alpha male macho, it must have been terrifying.
The reaction from the general population, and in particular the rugby fraternity was fantastic, apart from the odd moron.
The descriptions of some of the memorable moments in his career are an absolute must read for any sports fans.
It’s a measure of the man that he speaks as fondly of refereeing matches in his local Llanelli and District League, as much as he does of refereeing massive internationals between the top countries in the world.
His progress through officiating rugby games sees him taking charge of the World Cup Final in 2015 between New Zealand and Australia. The man with the best seat in the house gives a great account of this, and many other games, most rugby fans would have dreamed to have been in the crowd for.
His self analysis is humbling. Where many would have considered they had done a great job Nigel looks at the one or two decisions he, and his team of officials got wrong.
He’s at pains to point out that the one referee we see is not alone in running the game, touch judges, fourth officials and the TMO, all get credit, and the occasional tongue in cheek jibe. Step forward Wayne Barnes.
He talks about the isolation of the officiating teams during world cups, the elimination of the referees, not always being put down to their performance, but also the success of their home nation. A referee can’t officiate in a game in which their own country play, but also, and as a direct result of a championship he refereed in, they can’t officiate in a game that could have an influence on their home teams progression.
Imagine being the best in the world at what you do, but never been able to reach the pinnacle of your profession because you come from country that keeps getting to the World Cup final. I’m tempted here to say thank god Nigel Owens is Welsh, but as my wife is from Llanelli I might let that slide.
Perhaps the hardest thing to do when you enjoy the job you do, especially when you do it so well, is to know when to quit.
Nigel covers this in the later chapters of the book. A decision that was so nearly taken out of his hands. I recently heard another sportsman say that people at the top of their game are the first to know when they are losing that edge, that extra yard of speed, that extra ounce of strength, but they are the last to admit it.
Nigel seems to be the opposite to this. Towards the end of his career he was slowing down, even though he was in great physical shape. The trouble was rugby was changing, and even the pack were now, in the majority, becoming racing snakes built like brick outhouses.
He didn’t step back and think he couldn’t keep up. He sought help and changed the way he reffed the game. Took up different positions on the pitch, and extended his reign as one of, if not the top Rugby Union Referees right up till the end.
What did he do when he retired, not only is he running a farm with his partner, he has a media presence, and why not he has a great personality.
But the things he mentions right at the end of the book, almost as a few throwaway comments, about how he is helping the next generation of Welsh Rugby Officials will guarantee his legacy.
And whilst the rest of the WRU seems to be in disarray at least we will know the the future of the officiating is in good hands.
Max Boyce used to sing about the The Outside Half Factory buried in the Valleys of West Wales. With Nigel Owens on the production line I’m sure it’s about to reopen producing the men and women in the middle, giving us great match officials who can run a game with a smile on their faces whilst commanding full respect from the players and fans alike.
A brilliant read
My wife got me this book for Christmas and Nigel had put an inscription inside the cover.
It will take pride of place amongst my growing collection of books with inscriptions.
Diolch yn fawr Nigel
nigeladamsbookworm 