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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Cathy Owen

'You need to speak to yourself!' Nigel Owens gives Canada's captain a stern telling off and rugby fans are loving it

Referee Nigel Owens has done it once again as he is praised for his control over the latest game in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The Welsh official provided another couple of classic one-liners during the one-sided game between Italy and Canada, enhancing his reputation of being the best referee in world rugby.

He told Canadian captain Tyler Ardron: "I won't give you a second warning. This is the official warning...speak to your side, the next time will be a card...and speak to yourself as well because you're the one giving away the penalties!"

Ardron agreed and said he understood before returning to the game that his team lost 48-7.

He also told off the Italians for "confusing him" for a minute during another decision.

After the stern ticking off, fans took to social media to describe Nigel as the best referee of "any sport in the world", while others called for him to referee every game.

Fan Paul Higgitt said on social media: "Nigel Owens is the best referee/official of any sport in the world. The way he talks to the players with firmness and respect should be shown to anyone looking to get into officiating. He's also hilarious!"

His command of the game was the toast of social media as you can see here:

He was only declared fit days before the Rugby World Cup started after overcoming a painful leg injury, and questions were asked over his performance in the opening game between Japan and Russia when a former international suggested he should have potentially handed out a red card.

But that doesn't matter to the fans who want to see more of him during the tournament.

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