Legendary referee Nigel Owens got married, now he is starting a family
03/27/2025 07:11 AM
Popular Welsh referee Nigel Owens tied the knot with his long-term partner, Barrie Jones-Davies, last year.
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The couple, who have been together for several years, exchanged vows in a private ceremony, marking a new chapter in their lives.
Jones-Davies, a primary school teacher, and Owens, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest rugby referees of all time, share not only a deep personal bond but also a passion for farming, which they manage together in the picturesque Gwendraeth Valley.
The 51-year-old Owens, who officiated 100 test matches before retiring in 2020, has remained active in the rugby world through various advisory roles with the Welsh Rugby Union, the United Rugby Championship, and World Rugby.
However, despite receiving a tempting offer from South Africa’s Director of Rugby, Rassie Erasmus, to join the Springboks’ coaching team for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Owens revealed that he had to decline the opportunity.
In his column for Wales Online, Owens explained that the timing was not right, primarily due to exciting developments in his personal life. "The main reason why I had to turn down the job is because myself and my partner Barrie have some exciting news to share – we are currently in the final stages of the adoption process and will hopefully be starting our family in the coming months," Owens wrote.
He expressed his excitement about becoming a parent, a journey the couple has been preparing for over the past few years. "There's not too much I can say at the moment about the process itself, but we are both incredibly excited. It's something that we've spoken about for a few years now and it's taken a while to get here, but now that it's happening we can't wait, although I must admit it's also a little nerve-wracking," Owens admitted.
Recognising the immense responsibility that comes with raising a child, Owens emphasised that family must come first. "As any parent will tell you, there's no bigger commitment than raising a child, so that was obviously the main reason why I decided against the South Africa job in the end. I couldn't, nor would I want to, go away for the next six months with this happening," he added.
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CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO
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