Legendary rugby referee Nigel Owens has revealed his top three stadiums where he experienced the most thrilling atmospheres during his storied career, with a surprising omission of Cardiff’s iconic Principality Stadium.
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Owens, who is a proud Welshman, acknowledged the unique magic of the Principality but chose to leave it off his official list.
“It doesn’t really matter what game is on at the Principality Stadium – there’s just something special about it. It’s the way it’s built, where it’s located, and the atmosphere those factors create. Whether it’s Judgement Day, European Cup matches, or top-tier internationals, it’s on another level,” Owens explained.
“In my opinion, it’s the best stadium in the world, but I’ve left it out of my selections below because, well, I am Welsh, and maybe a little biased!”
Find out which stadiums made the cut in his top five.
#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.”
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