Owens for PRO12 Final
For the third time in the last five years Nigel Owens of Wales, one of the world's best referees, has been appointed to referee the Final of the PRO12, the competition which used to be the Celtic League but now has Italy as a member.
The Final this year will be played at Kingspan Stadium in Glasgow, neutral ground not quite equidistant from Galway and Glasgow, for Glasgow in Scotland is a bit closer to Belfast in Ireland than Galway in Ireland though there is a sea between Ireland and Scotland.
Owens refereed this match in 2011 when Munster played Leinster at Thomond Park in Limerick and in 2014 when Leinster played Glasgow Warriors in Dublin. Both those finals were won by the home sides but this one is no neutral ground.
The 43-year-old WestWalian Welsh-speaker who is a well-known television personality became a Test referee in 1945 when he refereed Japan vs Ireland in Osaka. Now he has refereed 60 Tests, the most of the 12 referees appointed to this year's World Cup
For Owens it will be his third World Cup after 2007 in France and 2011 in New Zealand.
He is well familiar with the special occasions that Finals provide, having referees, inter alia three Heineken Cup Finals and then this year's first European Professional Club Rugby Final, which has taken over from the Heineken Cup.
Owens is a charismatic referee, known for his quick tongue and ready wit. A great entertainer off the field he is a strict disciplinarian on the field.
The PRO 12 Final
Munster vs Glasgow Warriors
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Ian Davies (Wales), Sean Brickell (Wales)
Television match official: Derek Bevan (Wales)
