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I was naive over Bloodgate, says Welsh ref |
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| It was the scandal that rocked the rugby world to its core in 2009 - and Welsh referee Nigel Owens was at the centre of it. In a special documentary, Nigel Owens, broadcast on S4C on Friday this week (8.25pm), the referee from Carmarthenshire talks about his disappointment at the Harlequins for cheating on his watch. “I’m disappointed that someone has to resort to cheating to win a rugby game,� says Nigel. “But it’s made me more aware now of what can happen in a game and I don’t think we have to worry about any scandal involving blood capsules for the next fifty years. I don’t see anyone trying the same thing again - it was dealt with in the right way and the people responsible were punished.� Tom Williams took the blood capsule to fake a blood injury - which saw experienced kicker Nick Evans re-join the play and attempt an unsuccessful drop goal attempt. Williams was suspended from playing for four months after he came clean about his role. Harlequins’ coach at the time, Dean Richards, was banned from coaching rugby for three years and Harlequins themselves were fined £260,000. Bloodgate dominated the sports pages across the world in 2009 and, as Nigel was the official, his name was connected to one of rugby’s biggest controversies. “Even though there was no blame on me as a referee, my name was in every report and you’re always attached to that scandal. I would never resort to cheating and I didn’t think anyone else would either. Looking back, I was quite naïve and I’ve learnt my lesson.� In the programme, Nigel also talks about his battle to come to terms with his sexuality, which led to bulimia, a dependence on steroids and an attempt to take his own life. “I would make myself ill to lose weight and then take drugs to build muscle - while also fighting this depression of not wanting to be gay. I was quite low and I could only see one way out. It only hit home what I was doing when I saw both my parents cry in front of me. That’s when I decided to accept who I was and grow up,� he explains. Since then, he’s focused on his career as one of the world’s top match officials and the IRB Referee Manager, Paddy O’Brien, believes that Nigel has the potential to continue to reign supreme ready for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. Mr O’Brien says: “Nigel Owens has the potential to be at the top of the tree come World Cup 2011. He’s an exciting prospect…the world is his oyster. He can do anything.� |
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