Brendan Gallagher continues his enthralling series by looking at the best rugby referees

1. Nigel Owens (Wales)
Owens was poised on 98 internationals before Covid struck and will hopefully continue for a little while longer yet to clock up the century and perhaps kick on a bit. Like every referee in history, Owens will make mistakes but he makes fewer than most and enjoys such a good rapport with the players with his empathy and keen sense of humour that they don’t detract in any way from his authority. Time after time Owens provides a canvas for the world’s greatest players to ...