‘Straight red no hesitation’ – Nigel Owens weighs in on Nolann Le Garrec’s ‘absolutely ridiculous’ dive
Nigel Owens in his refereeing days.
Respected former referee, Nigel Owens, has slammed Nolann Le Garrec’s simulation in Racing 92’s defeat to Perpignan, stating that he would have given the scrum-half a “straight red”.
The former Welsh official was renowned for his player interactions and efforts to ensure rugby was played in the right spirit of the game.
It’s been a tough season for Racing 92, with them currently sitting in 11th place in the Top 14 following their 28-24 defeat to fellow struggler Perpignan, with Le Garrec’s actions the latest negative in their spiralling campaign.
The evident ‘dive’ that saw the French player run softly into Perpignan’s Bruce Devaux was not only a bad look for the sport but also saw time wasted in the match due to the medical attention.
The event has seen calls for Le Garrec’s suspension and caused uproar in the sport, with acts of simulation becoming all too regular.
This is not soccer
Owens has long been an advocate for the standards, morals and respect of rugby being upheld, with him famously quoting through the referee mic that the sport ‘is not soccer’ following a similar incident while he was in charge.
Having seen the replay of Le Garrec’s actions where he held his face in an attempt to buy a penalty for the team, the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final referee made his opposition to the incident known.
“He is lucky I wasn’t refin or he would have had a straight red no hesitation,” stated Owens on X – slamming the gamesmanship of the France international.
He is lucky I wasn’t refin or he would have had a straight red no hesitation https://t.co/xqZR0GfN6R
— Nigel Owens MBE (@Nigelrefowens) April 20, 2025
With his barrage of relatable player interactions throughout the years, it leaves us thinking what line Owens would have used in downing the player’s actions if he had been in possession of the whistle.
Since his retirement from refereeing in 2020 after a 23-year career, Owens has maintained his support for upholding the standards of rugby through his commentary work and columns as he continues to support the officiating of the sport.
France star’s ‘proper theatre’ leads to ban calls for ‘absolutely ridiculous’ dive
Reaction to the simulation
The reaction to the French scrum-half flinging himself to the floor has been bitter, with his actions leading to calls for sanctions and repressions to deter any such events from creeping further into rugby.
Social media and media outlets alike have joined the slamming of the Top 14 dive, with the incident bringing negative press that the game is intent on stamping out.
“Genuinely think that deserves a ban. Absolutely ridiculous,” and “six weeks minimum for this sh***osery” were among the calls from influential rugby journalists who were horrified by Sunday evening’s event.
One rugby figure stated that the severity of the matter was not in the dive itself, but the impact it has on the seriousness in which officials respond to head injuries if players go down holding their head in a similar manner that is often seen in football.
“This type of simulation should come with a ban. Part of the endeavour of treating head contact seriously is that if a player goes down holding their head, you need to believe them,” he wrote.
“So when it is clearly theatrics, it should be dealt with utmost severity.”
