Rugby fans tuning into Munster’s victory over Glasgow last night would have been taken aback by the sight of Nigel Owens on his mobile phone during the match. So what was going on?
The Welsh official was spotted on the blower midway through the first half of Munster’s win over the Glasgow Warriors at Musgrave Park and although we wish there was a more dramatic explanation for this bizarre occurrence, the truth is actually innocent enough.
Owens wasn’t ringing a taxi to pick him up after the game, or ordering a take away from one of the many fine establishments in the People’s Republic, he was merely contacting the TMO to determine whether or not a try was scored after the communication link between them broke down.
Not surprisingly, word of Owens’ innovation was soon doing the rounds on Twitter, with embattled Irish international Tommy Bowe one of the many wondering if his eyes had in fact deceived him.
Whether he intends it or not – and we’ve an inkling that he does – Owens seems to have a habit of being the centre of attention, having told Treviso’s Tobias Botes in no uncertain terms what sport he was playing in another Munster game earlier this year and nearly missing out on a Leinster game at the RDS due to some much-publicised (by himself, we might add) flight difficulties.
He might have started a dangerous trend here, for although he might have only pulled out the mobile in exceptional circumstances, soon we’ll have refs texting and checking Facebook during the game if something isn’t done sharpish.
Incidentally, Munster won the game 35-29, or so read a text sent into us by one N Owens about 10pm last night. True story.
Pic via Twitter/James Aaron Cotter
