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Derek Bevan and Nigel Owens are rugby refereeing legends. Only seven people have taken charge of World Cup finals... and two of them are Welsh.

Bevan’s big game was England versus Australia in 1991 while Nigel officiated the last final between New Zealand and the Wallabies.

Between them they have loads of funny and unlikely stories of what really happens out on the field of play - and off it.

The two men have got together to share some of those memories in a new book, ‘Derek and Nigel: Two Heads, One Tale’, which we are publishing extracts from today.

These are the tales of two top-level rugby referees, as never told before....

FAVOURING WALES OVER ENGLAND

Cardiff versus Pontypool matches used to be epic encounters during the 1980s and Bevan took charge of one which threw up confusion... and a very Welsh ending!

Bevan: "Pontypool Park, Welsh Cup quarter-final. The ground was packed. I’d never seen it so full and the atmosphere was fantastic.

There was a lineout; Bob Norster won the ball for Cardiff and the play moved on. As I moved with it I could hear – and feel! – the crowd boo and shout in condemnation.

I turned around to see Eddie Butler and John Scott, two international number eights, eyeballing and scuffling with each other. I called on my two touch judges to ask what had happened as I hadn’t seen anything.

On they came. One said that Butler had started the fight. The other said that Scott had thrown the first punch. They were adamant they had seen everything, but they gave me two opposing accounts.

What was I to do? In the end I turned to them and said, ‘Listen, we’re in Pontypool Park. It’s a Cup game. One player is a Welshman, the other is an Englishman. There are 16,000 people here. It’s a penalty to Pontypool.’

And that’s how it was. I had a standing ovation from the home fans!

As we walked off the pitch, John Scott turned to me and said, ‘That was a good home decision wasn’t it?’

'Too right it was,’ I replied. No point denying the obvious.”

(Image: Media Wales) (Image: Trinity Mirror Copyright)

PLEASE DON’T LET ENGLAND WIN THE WORLD CUP!

Bevan was given the 1991 World Cup final between England and Australia at Twickenham. He was inundated with good luck messages, but one stood out more than any others and it came from his old mates at Vardre RFC in Swansea

Bevan: “It was such a busy time, with a mix of preparation and frantic media activity taking up every waking hour. I soon got to the point when I asked the hotel receptionist to block all my calls. I didn’t have time to think and that wasn’t good.

The messages of support were unbelievable. So many came from people I didn’t know, including stars from other sports.

But I must say that it’s the Vardre people who gave me the best message: ‘Make sure those English so and so’s don’t win it!’

It went very well from my point of view, although it wasn’t a classic of a match by any stretch of the imagination. Australia won 12-6, scoring the only try of the game.

Luckily, there weren’t any big controversies in the game, apart from my not awarding England a penalty try when David Campese had deliberately knocked-on with England close to crossing the line!

I was happy that there was sufficient cover not to give the penalty try, and I awarded a penalty only. It was an issue that was analysed intensely after the game.

Luckily most people agreed with my interpretation. Maybe Campese didn’t though!”



THE UNUSUAL GOOD LUCK MESSAGE TO NIGE

Two decades on, it was Nigel’s turn to get the World Cup final, again at Twickenham but this time between New Zealand and Australia. He too was overwhelmed by messages of goodwill, including a unique one

Owens: “I was in the referees’ room, starting my preparation for the final. I watched some videos, looking at scrummaging. Then I played cards with some of the others. I remember thinking that there seemed to be a heck of a lot of refs still hanging around the room. That was unusual, as they would have gone home by then.

Joel Jutge, the Head of Refs, called us together, saying he wanted to show us something. It was a video compilation of good luck messages from former World Cup final refs Alain Rolland, Craig Joubert, Warren Gatland, referees’ manager Nigel Whitehouse, and many others as well.

Then, cue Mr Bevan’s video contribution! What did you say, Bev?”

Bevan: ‘Nige, we’ve got a lot in common,’ I said. ‘I was 44 years of age when I reffed my final, you’re 44 reffing yours. We each come from small villages in west Wales. Thirdly, we each refereed a World Cup final at Twickenham, and fourth, Australia were involved in my World Cup final and they’re involved in yours.’

I then finished by saying, ‘The only difference between us is our sexuality’!”

Owens: “Everyone in the room was rolling around laughing at that! I certainly had tears in my eyes. Only Bev!”

GETTING SHIRTY WITH CARDIFF

Bevan had been given a beautiful new white referee’s shirt for Xmas, but wasn’t best pleased when he wore it for the first time at a Cardiff v Bridgend match

Bevan: “I’d had the referee’s badge sewn onto it. I was chuffed. You bought your own then, of course.

I wore it with pride that day. Just before the match, I went into Cardiff’s dressing room to inspect the players’ studs. I approached David Joseph, their prop, who was in the process of greasing himself ready for the match.

As I stood in front of him, he placed his hands on my shoulders so that he could lift one leg at a time and show me his studs. His grease-filled hands left two massive hand prints on my brand-new, clean, white shirt. It looked awful. I wasn’t happy!

First scrum, I penalised him for pulling the scrum down. He looked totally bemused, protesting his innocence. But it was three points to Bridgend. Next scrum, I penalised him again. He was even more bewildered, especially when the coach shouted from the side for him to sort his act out.

He continued to protest his innocence and then snapped, ‘He’s only doing this because I got his shirt dirty!’

‘Too right I am!’ I replied, and moved the game on. I’d made my point.”

MANDELA AND RISKING THE WRATH OF THE RAINBOW NATION

Many still view the 1995 World Cup as the best in history and Bevan was given the historic opening game between the Springboks and Australia. No-one knows he nearly awarded a walkover to the Wallabies, which would have changed the face of the tournament and the Rainbow Nation's victory. Here’s why

Bevan: “It was the first time South Africa had been able to participate in the World Cup following years of exclusion because of apartheid issues. So, in that sense alone, it was a historic occasion, not just in terms of rugby but on a wider political and historical front too.

I was extremely nervous before that game, more than for most I’d refereed in my career. The opening ceremony was one that was full of colour. You can imagine the various tribes that they have in South Africa, and many were represented at the ceremony.

So there was colour, music and atmosphere I hadn’t experienced before. It was the Rainbow Nation on display!

Then, into this arena steps Nelson Mandela. Wow! What a presence. He famously wore a South African rugby shirt for that event, which immediately struck the right chord. He was identifying with his nation and the occasion, a recently freed black man and President of his country.

It was very powerful.

Before the honour of meeting Mandela and the South African and Australian teams on the pitch, I had to do my usual dressing room inspections.

I went into the South African dressing room and saw a room full of what looked like American Football players. They were padded to the hilt on every possible part of the body.

So I spoke to them collectively and asked if this was their kit for the warm-up. They said no; this was how they were going to play the game.

I said that, if that was the case, then I wouldn’t allow them on the pitch and Australia would go through by default.

Within two minutes an alternative kit was found, having been told that there wasn’t one available, and they took to the field wearing what was actually permitted.

But that’s not what stays in my memory. The lasting memory is Mandela in his rugby shirt on that pitch.”

(Image: Allsport)

(Image: Allsport)

AND RISKING THE WRATH OF AN IRISH NATION

Owens had just taken charge of the South Africa 27 New Zealand 38 epic at Ellis Park. Next up were Steve Hansen’s Blacks again, this time against Ireland, with legends Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell making perhaps their farewell appearances against the Kiwis. Dublin was a cauldron of emotion and the dramatic ending tested Nigel

Owens: “I met with Joe Schmidt, the Irish coach, before the game and then I met Steve Hansen and his captain Richie McCaw. As I left McCaw turned to me and said, ‘Let’s hope tomorrow’s game is as good as the last one.’ My reply was, ‘I don’t think we’ll see a game like that for a fair time.’

How wrong I was! That game in Dublin was also amazing. Ireland flew into the lead, 19–0 after 18 minutes, and the second half began with the All Blacks 22–7 down.”

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New Zealand pulled it back to 22-17, time was running out, then...

Owens: “It was amazing. I penalised Ireland round about midfield and the All Blacks kept the ball for something like 20 phases and they ended up scoring a try. It was 22–22 with the conversion to come.

As a referee, you can’t let yourself get involved in the emotion and significance. Looking back, I know that everyone wanted Ireland to win that day, unless you were a Kiwi of course.

But I had to focus on what was happening there and then. As Aaron Cruden was about to take his kick, Tommy Bowe and Luke Fitzgerald started their run towards the kicker.

But it was too early. I had noticed that and I remember thinking to myself, if Cruden misses this, I’m going to have to ask him to take the kick again because the Irish players charged far too early, and that’s not permitted.

Sure enough, he misses it. OK. Here goes, I think to myself. This fervent, enthusiastic, capacity Irish crowd are going to love this! It really was like a cauldron in there that day, with the Irish for most of the game sensing a famous victory.

But I had to tell Cruden to take the kick again. He lines up for the conversion a second time. The kick sails through the posts with ease. It’s 24–22 to the All Blacks.

I didn’t expect a reaction from the Irish players but I did expect a difficult response from the Irish crowd. But I was surprised on the two counts. As much as the Irish players were down on their knees with disappointment after a game they probably should have won, each one came up to me to shake my hand and say thank you.

The crowd as well were very quiet and appreciative. That said a lot about Irish sportsmanship.”

(Image: David Rogers/Getty Images)

REVENGE ON ROGER (AND THAT ANDY HADEN CONTROVERSY)

Roger Quittenton was the English referee who awarded a penalty when Andy Haden dived out of a lineout at the Arms Park in 1978, robbing Wales of an historic victory. There was to be an element of Welsh revenge, but first he and Bevan were amongst the referees hoping to get the 1987 World Cup final

Bevan: "Regardless of that decision against Wales, he wasn’t an easy man to get on with anyway. When we arrived out there (New Zealand), I walked over to where the Welsh and English refs were at a table having breakfast together and glanced at what each one was having.

Roger had a full bowl of fresh-looking muesli. It looked really good and I decided I wanted some. I searched everywhere at the breakfast counter but couldn’t find any.

I went back and asked Roger where he got it from. ‘It’s my own concoction; I get it made up for me at home,’ he said. ‘It’s very good and helps my concentration in matches. I’ve measured the portions out to last me the tournament, so I’m sorry I can’t give you any'."

Shortly afterwards Quittenton was told he wouldn't get a semi-final or final

Bevan: "Roger was mortified that he was being sent home, so much so in fact that he started to cry. He turned to me and said, ‘Derek, haven’t you got anything to say?’

I was, unusually, a little lost for words for a while before saying, ‘Do you know that muesli you had...’ He looked at me in total disbelief!

It’s fair to say that Roger wasn’t well liked by the Welsh, but he made things even worse following a match between Richmond and South Wales Police. He sent a South Wales Police player off and they deemed that he had blown the whole game out of their hands.

In the bar after the match, enjoying a drink or two with the Richmond committee, South Wales Police did not want to spend much time with him because of the way he refereed the game. But he was overheard saying to one of the Richmond men, ‘Oh yes, when you referee the Welsh you have to treat them like animals'."

Owens: "No way!"

Bevan: "Yes he did. But, unfortunately for him and the Richmond committee who chuckled enthusiastically at his remark, it was heard by a reporter from the South Wales Evening Post.

"The headline was obvious: ‘Quittenton calls the Welsh animals.’

Two days after, my phone rings. ‘Derek. Q here.’ He called himself Q all the time. ‘Bit of publicity going around Wales that’s not good for me, I gather.’

‘Yes Roger, you’re right.’

‘I’m looking for a friend in Wales.’

‘Rog, you’ve rung the wrong damn number!’

And the phone went down!"

AND FINALLY... ‘IS THERE ANY REASON WHY I CAN’T AWARD A TRY?’

It was Cardiff Blues v the Ospreys in 2014 and Bevan was acting as Nigel’s TMO. Cue chaos on the ref mic

Owens: “Rhys Webb had just managed to get over the line and ground the ball under a pile of bodies for a try, giving the Ospreys their bonus point. But I wanted to double-check if it was a try or not. So, I called up to you. The conversation went like this:

‘Derek.’

‘Hello Nige.’

‘Any reason why I can’t award the try?’

‘Any reason why you can’t award the try?’

‘Yes. He was on his back on the line, so no double movement or holding on.’

Then, after studying the move in detail, looking at the various camera angles, you came back with your deliberation:

‘Nige!’

‘Hello Derek.’

‘There’s no reason I can’t give you that you cannot award a try.’

‘There’s no reason why I can’t award the try. (Pause) So I can award the try?’

‘That is it’.”

Bevan: “Watching that back after, the little smile playing on your face as you hear my answer and then try to understand what I said is really funny. I had a bad dose of the double negatives that day, to be sure! But we certainly had a good laugh about it, as has everyone else!”

Derek and Nigel is published by Y Lolfa on 19 November and can be ordered at www.ylolfa.com

They will each be doing signing sessions of the book in Wales.