"I remember thinking to myself, wow!" – Nigel Owens names the best rugby stadiums for atmosphere

Yesterday at 04:53 PM

Legendary referee Nigel Owens has handpicked five stadiums where he experienced the most electrifying atmospheres during his career, surprisingly omitting his beloved Principality Stadium in Cardiff from the list.

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However, Owens prefaced his ranking with an explanation for the Principality’s omission:

“It doesn't really matter what game is taking place at the Principality Stadium, there is just something special about it. It's the way it's built, where it is, the atmosphere that those factors combine to generate.

“Judgement Day is great, European Cup matches there are the same and obviously top internationals are on another level. To me, that is the best stadium in the world but I will leave that out of my selections below because I am, of course, Welsh and maybe a little biased!”

Explore his entire top five below

#5. Stade de France, Paris

The first of the international grounds on our list of the best stadiums in world rugby, the atmosphere in Stade de France mirrors their national team: boisterous and joyful when on the front foot, but quiet and frail when behind.

Owens wrote: “When you're inside the Stade de France it's an incredible stadium.

“The atmosphere is up there with the best and I absolutely loved refereeing there but the actual location of the stadium is not the best, there isn't a lot going on around it, it's the total opposite to Cardiff in many ways.”

He added: “I did the 2018 game here when Johnny Sexton kicked a 45 metre drop goal after 46 phases to win the match and set Ireland on their way to a Grand Slam that year. France had scored the only try of the match to take the lead in the 72nd minute and the crowd were going crazy, it was so loud and La Marseillaise was being sung.

“But Ireland were just relentless in that closing passage leading to the drop goal. People talk about the pressure on Sexton, well they want to know what it's like refereeing at that stage of a match! You know any decision you make is probably going to decide the outcome. You can't afford to get it wrong.

“But that stadium is absolutely rocking when France are hitting their straps. A special place to referee.”

#4. Thomond Park, Limerick

Owens wrote: “For me, few things beat Thomond Park on a European Cup weekend. That is an experience that should be on every rugby fan's bucket list. When there are 28,000 in there for games against the likes of Toulouse, Leicester or Clermont – all of which I've refereed there – then it doesn't half take some beating.”

He added: “Refereeing Leinster v Munster in Dublin was one thing, but refereeing the same fixture at Thomond Park is something else entirely. It was a very difficult game to referee because of the intensity of the crowd and the players responding to that.

“When you are in that stadium and all those thousands of supporters are singing Fields of Athenry, it really is breathtaking.”

#3. Croke Park, Dublin

Owens wrote: “I refereed Leinster v Munster here in the Heineken Cup semi-final in 2009. It was like an international day, there was a sea of blue and red descending on the stadium. The attendance of over 82,000 set a record at the time and the atmosphere was remarkable.

“That game was a bit of a turning point for Irish rugby because Munster were favourites that day and Leinster turned them over. Johnny Sexton came of age, Brian O'Driscoll was in his pomp and they ran Munster ragged that day. It was a brilliant game of rugby.

“I remember Derek Bevan telling me he'd never been involved in a game like it at club level because the atmosphere was electric. You knew you were part of something special.”

#2. Twickenham Stadium, London

For what England's HQ lacks in atmosphere, it certainly makes up for it in occasion.

At 82,000 it is the biggest rugby stadium in the Northern Hemisphere, having witnessed a record 13 Six Nations Grand Slams for their home side.

Owens wrote: “It will always be a special place for me because it's where I took charge of the World Cup final and my first ever Six Nations match, but there is more to this selection than just that.

“Surprisingly, for a match where the host nation wasn't involved, with a lot of neutral supporters in the ground, the atmosphere was special.”

“I say neutral supporters but it felt like most people in the ground had chosen a team to support, there can't have been many who weren't rooting for one team or the other and that added to the occasion. I remember some of the crowd outside wishing me good luck as we walked into the stadium, which was a nice touch..

“I've always enjoyed refereeing at Twickenham. I've taken charge of England games many times and I always got a great welcome there. It's a lovely stadium and it's always full.

“Sometimes it's not as passionate as you might see elsewhere. Similar to my earlier comment about Munster v Leinster at Thomond Park, Wales v England at Twickenham and at the Principality Stadium are very different occasions. If Wales scored a great try at Twickenham, the majority of home fans would probably politely acknowledge it, I can assure you the reaction would be very different in Cardiff if roles were reversed!”

“But Twickenham is still a fantastic venue, even though it's not always a hit with Welsh supporters.”

#1. Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Nestled right in the heart of Gauteng Province, one of the most dangerous neighbourhoods in the world, Ellis Park takes Venatour's top spot.

All Blacks legend Justin Marshall said of the 62,567 stadium: "Even the drive to Ellis Park on the bus is daunting, where often supporters push the bus, and certainly make it very clear you're in enemy territory.

"On the field it's an atmosphere like no other – hostile and very passionate. No coincidence that the Springboks play better there than at any ground in the country. They're different beasts when they run on to Ellis Park. Something in them stirs."

Owens wrote: “The game was South Africa v New Zealand in 2013 and the atmosphere that day was just something to behold. The game itself was just unbelievable and played at such a pace, without a doubt the best I ever refereed.

“The All Blacks won 38-27, there were nine tries and some of them were stunning. The crowd really got into the game, as they always do in South Africa, and it made for a truly special memory.

“The ground itself is not in a great place but there is so much history there with the 1995 World Cup final being played there. They did the same in 2013 as they did in 1995 as well when they flew this massive jumbo jet over the stadium. I was out on the field warming up and it was so low you thought it was going to clip the top of the stand.

“I remember thinking to myself 'Wow, what an occasion this is'. The supporters were incredible and it is just one of the great rugby venues anywhere in the world.”

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