2017.02.05 橄榄球联盟裁判奈杰尔-欧文斯

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Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the rugby union referee Nigel Owens.

His steely authority and quick wit on the field have won him worldwide praise - he's widely regarded as one of the best referees in the business for the impact he makes on the flow and coherence of a game. In 2015 he became the second Welsh official since 1991 to referee a World Cup Final - in a memorable match between New Zealand and Australia.

Born and raised in a small village in Carmarthenshire, he first picked up the whistle aged 16, when it became clear to both his teacher and himself that he wouldn't make much impact as a player.

A former school technician and farm worker, he broke through onto the international refereeing circuit in 2005 and took charge of his first Test when Japan hosted Ireland in Osaka that summer.

In 2007 he became one of the first high-profile sports professionals to come out as gay - a courageous move in a sport which often defines the word macho. He has spoken about this decision as being the biggest challenge he has ever faced - even more so than officiating an international match under intense scrutiny in front of 95,000 spectators and a global TV audience. The severe depression he experienced coming to terms with his sexuality culminated in an attempt to take his own life in his twenties.

He now says the unwavering support he has received from the rugby authorities, the players and the fans has enabled him to be true to himself and carry on working in the game he loves.



橄榄球联盟裁判奈杰尔-欧文斯

他在球场上坚定的权威和敏捷的智慧为他赢得了全世界的赞誉--他被广泛认为是业内最好的裁判之一，因为他对比赛的流程和连贯性产生了影响。2015年，他成为自1991年以来第二位在世界杯决赛中担任裁判的威尔士官员--在新西兰和澳大利亚之间的一场令人难忘的比赛中。

他在卡马森郡的一个小村庄出生和长大，16岁时第一次拿起哨子，当时他的老师和他自己都清楚，作为一名球员，他不会有太大的影响。

作为一名前学校技术人员和农场工人，他在2005年闯入了国际裁判圈，并在那年夏天日本在大阪举办的爱尔兰比赛中负责了他的第一次测试。

2007年，他成为第一批高调公开同性恋身份的体育专业人士之一--在一项经常定义为大男子主义的运动中，这是一个勇敢的举动。他谈到这一决定是他所面临的最大挑战--甚至比在95,000名观众和全球电视观众面前担任国际比赛的裁判还要大。他在接受自己的性取向时经历了严重的抑郁症，最终在20多岁时试图自杀身亡。

他现在说，他从橄榄球当局、球员和球迷那里得到的坚定支持，使他能够忠于自己，继续在他所热爱的比赛中工作。