Gay rugby referee Nigel Owens marries and celebrates a beautiful wedding on the coast
Nigel Owens made headlines in 2007 when he came out as gay. At the time, the Welshman was a rugby referee at the highest level, officiating matches all over the world. Many consider him to be one of the greatest rugby referees of all time.
The 53-year-old retired in 2020 after 17 years in the sport.
Owens made headlines last week for other reasons… when he married his partner, teacher Barrie Jones-Davies.
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The two men married at the Cliff Hotel & Spa in Gwbert, overlooking the stunning Cardigan Bay in Wales. The ceremony took place on Saturday, August 10, according to Wales Online.
The reception was all about rugby and the tables were named after stadiums, such as the local Principality Stadium.
Owens said on Instagram that it was “the greatest day” and “the proudest of my life.”
Owens shared a beautiful video montage of the day on his Instagram. Check it out below.
The men also shared a wedding photo of themselves in front of the stunning scenery.
Since retiring as a referee, Owens has focused on media work. He is co-presenter of the Welsh-language broadcasts Jonathan And Bwrw’r Bar (‘Hitting the Bar’) on Welsh television. He has also turned to farming and owns several cows. On Instagram, he said he was delighted when he returned from his wedding to find that one of his cows had given birth to a calf.
Plans for introduction
Last year, Owens revealed he had turned down the opportunity to join the coaching staff of the South Africa national rugby team in preparation for the World Cup. He said he did so because of commitments on his farm and in Wales, but also because he and his partner Barrie hope to become parents soon.
“We are currently in the final stages of the adoption process and will hopefully start a family in the coming months,” Owens wrote for Wales Online.
“I can’t say much about the process itself at the moment, but we are both incredibly excited. We’ve been talking about it for a few years and it’s taken a while to get to this point, but now that it’s happening we can’t wait, although I have to admit it’s a bit nerve-wracking too.”
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