Nigel Owens & Luke Fitzgerald Trade Tweets Over Comments As Fans Defend Welshman
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Luke Fitzgerald upset a lot of people yesterday with his comments about referee Nigel Owens.
Owens was back in the spotlight this weekend with another one of his brilliant one-liners in the Munster vs Glasgow game. Owens told the southern province it was a poor decision throwing a bad pass with no pressure, when they had the advantage.
Captain Billy Holland saw the funny side of it, and laughed it off saying ‘cheers coach’ to Owens. It was all in good fun with Owens performance on the night particularly good, in what what a highly charged game.
Fitzgerald was asked about Owens’ latest one-liner on The Left Wing yesterday, and said it’s time Owens focused on his job and cut his antics out of the game.
I’d rather he just refereed the game well. The first job of the referee is to almost be anonymous and that’s the first duty for him. He is taken seriously, he’s a brilliant referee, no doubt about that.
I just think those kind of things are disappointing and it’s disrespectful to the players who are putting in a huge amount of effort.
There’s no place for it in the game. You can’t actually speak back. It’s almost like a situation where someone is on a podium having a go at someone in the crowd. It’s wrong because there’s no platform to come back.
Owens took to Twitter later in the day to clarify his comments with Fitzgerald, with the two ending up engaging in a bit of back and forth, with a fan joining in to voice his displeasure at players mouthing at the referee.
The game is about the players not the ref. I didn't say a witty thing or a put down. I just explained why advantage was over. Nothing more https://t.co/NtwxjIXNyz
— Nigel Owens MBE (@Nigelrefowens) April 10, 2017
@Nigelrefowens great ref-agree to disagree on comments made during games, just my https://t.co/vuPWdmnra0 of luck for the rest of the season
— luke fitzgerald (@lukefitz11) April 10, 2017
@Nigelrefowens @lukefitz11 – so when will the players stop commentating / arguing with the refs? Surely we need equity in this discussion?
— Ross Campbell (@Rosscampbell76) April 10, 2017
@Rosscampbell76 @Nigelrefowens Completely agree Ross, one person should talk to the ref and that's the captain. I think it's something we could improve in our game
— luke fitzgerald (@lukefitz11) April 10, 2017
Owens reminded Fitzgerald he was no stranger to having a chat with the ref on the field. Fitzgerald didn’t take too kindly to it.
@lukefitz11 @Rosscampbell76 lucky uv retired then as we had a few chats on field & u weren't capt. U was always respectful as i was with u
— Nigel Owens MBE (@Nigelrefowens) April 10, 2017
@Nigelrefowens @Rosscampbell76 Really, they have completely slipped my mind. Remind me when we had these chats on the field?
— luke fitzgerald (@lukefitz11) April 10, 2017
@lukefitz11 @Rosscampbell76 don't bite now. We must never lose our sense of humour mate. Was to long ago to remember when now am gettin old
— Nigel Owens MBE (@Nigelrefowens) April 10, 2017
Another fan then decided to chime in, clearly missing the point after Owens explained himself.
@Nigelrefowens At it again. I actually don't think you understand. You have NO business telling him its a poor play
— Colm Parkinson (@Woolberto) April 10, 2017
@Woolberto o not again. Your missing the point
It was an explanation of why advantage was over because bad pass and not caused by opposition— Nigel Owens MBE (@Nigelrefowens) April 10, 2017
In the end it seems the rugby world is behind Owens- and rightfully so.
@LewisMoody7 @Nigelrefowens @esseyeee Absolutely, some people need to get over themselves and understand the empathy he has for game and players
— Terry Burwell (@26eltel) April 11, 2017
@Nigelrefowens @esseyeee Well said Nigel
— Lewis Moody (@LewisMoody7) April 11, 2017
@Nigelrefowens Stay as you are @Nigelrefowens it compliments the game and you have the respect of the players.
— Edward Foley (@EdwardFoley) April 11, 2017
@lukefitz11 @Nigelrefowens Sports meant to be fun think it's good to see some banter between players and refs. It's a sign that everyone's enjoying themselves
— Kevin Burke (@BurkeKev85) April 10, 2017
@Nigelrefowens @lukefitz11 Keep doing you mate. respect lost for Luke. Guys gotta do what he's gotta do for publicity. The witty replies are what makes rugby special.
— Daniel John (@Daniel_John08) April 10, 2017
